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In the wake of the tragic deaths of firefighters, Khathutshelo Muedi, Simphiwe Moropane and Mduduzi Ndlovu, ADeC Leader, Moses Mayekiso says that the Gauteng Provincial Government must hold City of Joburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba accountable for idling the issue of killer builders in the inner city.

Government buildings without water or fire extinguishers indicate government’s gross negligence and belittling of our Human Rights. How does the building operate without water, the most and natural basic human right?

The spokesman for the DA in the Gauteng Legislature, Honorable Member Jack Bloom, highlighted that he had asked a question about the conditions of this building to the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development but no response was received to date.

The ADeC calls for an enquiry into why the complaints of employees regarding the particular building were ignored. The cause of this fire needs to be investigated and those guilty of negligence must be held accountable. Mayor Herman Mashaba, Premier David Makhura and MEC for Infrastructure, Jacob Mamabolo need to take responsibility for the deaths of these heroes, as they have failed to ensure a safe working environment for public servants working in government buildings.

Additionally, we call for corporate and residential buildings to also be investigated with a fine-tooth to ensure that they are compliant with health and safety regulations.

The tragic deaths of the three firefighters could have been avoided. The state of Joburg’s inner city as a whole is in tatters and our people are not safe. The scourge of hijacked, dilapidated buildings is a ticking time bomb for more disaster to come.

Issued by ADeC