Germiston Home Affairs building set sblaze amid eviction protests

by Mathipa Phishego

A two-storey Department of Home Affairs building in central Germiston was deliberately set on fire by protesting residents early on Tuesday morning. The blaze began on the top floor, and firefighters are still attempting to access the lower level to assess the extent of the damage.

Firefighters from multiple stations were deployed, working to bring the flames under control. President and Jack Streets have been closed to traffic, and adjacent buildings have been evacuated or sealed off for safety.

The incident is directly linked to an eviction dispute. More than 400 families residing in municipal flats at Pharoe Park face eviction due to accumulating arrears exceeding R200 million over two decades. Some residents allegedly sought to occupy the flats without paying rent, leading to confrontations with law enforcement that escalated into the act of arson.

William Ntladi, spokesperson for Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services, confirmed the fire’s onset around 8 a.m. and affirmed that so far there have been no casualties. He confirmed that the top section of the building was the most affected.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber condemned the incident, labeling it an attack on social infrastructure and promising criminal charges against those responsible. He emphasized that the fire originated from a block of flats that subsequently spread to the neighbouring Home Affairs office.

The Department of Home Affairs office affected by the fire is located at the corner of F.H. Odendaal also known as President Street. Reports suggest that the Pharoe Park flats targeted by the protesters are nearby municipal-owned structures but the articles do not explicitly confirm whether those flats are part of the same building or an adjacent property