Fire destroys illegal commune
At around 8:40 on 5 August a fire blazed through an illegal commune in Kew Road, Richmond.

The local fire services arrived swiftly and controlled the fire, but not before extensive damage destroyed the building that housed eight students.
Richmond resident Hans Alink expressed concern that this and other illegal communes in the area present a problem for everyone in the community, “This fire confirms our fears that illegal communes do not comply with safety, health and noise regulations and constitute a high risk for all residents in the neighbourhood.”
Alink also said if the fire services had not responded as quickly as they did, neighbouring houses would have caught fire as well.
Lucas Geyer, another disconcerted resident reported the issue to the City of Johannesburg earlier this year and is irritated that nothing had been done. “No action has been taken by the City of Johannesburg against the commune owner,” said Geyer.