A leading member of South African opposition, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says the government must be charged with culpable homicide following the death of 77 persons who died in the Johannesburg CBD fire last week.
The fire broke out in the Usindiso building on Thursday leaving many including 12 children dead, dozens of others seriously wounded.
Mashaba while speaking on Newzroom Afrika on Monday that the government must be held accountable for the fire at the hijacked structure.
Mashaba maintaned that law enforcement officers were aware of the people behind the hijacking of buildings in the city, saying he reported the cases to President Cyril Ramaphosa during his tenure as mayor.
“The cases of corruption and maladministration in the city involve some of his (Ramaphosa) colleagues who are today in parliament and in government. We’ve got a crisis and, unfortunately, our law enforcement agencies are refusing to assist. What we are sitting (on) here is a ticking time bomb,” he said.
Mashaba explained that had the incident happened under his watch, he would also call for the state to be charged with culpable homicide.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, speaking about the fire over the weekend, acknowledged Mashaba’s work to reclaim Johannesburg’s hijacked buildings.
“Mashaba himself has been dealing with this matter, he went to court (when) I was the minister of police. I worked with Mashaba to try to close down these buildings, some of (which)are owned by people who are dead,” said Mbalula.
ActionSA believes that there is an abundance of facts over the circumstances that led to the fires, and therefore prosecution of those concerned should not be delayed or covered in any form of grandstanding.
