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NATIONAL NEWS - Protestors have allegedly set the home affairs building alight in Germiston in Ekurhuleni.
The volatile protests erupted in the Germiston CBD on Tuesday morning.
It is believed that the protest is linked to evictions, as some individuals seek to occupy flats at Pharoe Park without paying rent.
Germiston fire
City of Ekurhuleni media liaison officer William Ntladi said several streets had been affected.
Ntladi said they received the call at about 08:00 on Tuesday morning.
“Home Affairs’ building is well alight. This is a two-story building currently. The top section is the one that is well alight, the bottom one, we are still battling to break in and go and see what is happening,” confirmed Ntladi.
“So resources are here, multiple stations with multiple vehicles, and a number of firefighters are on site.
“In terms of the street operations, President Street and Jack Street are closed for traffic, and all the buildings nearby have been closed for safety and operational purposes.
“Flames are under control. Structures in the neighbourhood had to be protected as per the risk assessment conducted. So the scene is still unfolding. So far, no casualties have been reported,” said Ntladi.
Ntladi said the actual cause of the fire is still undetermined and that investigations are continuing.
Home Affairs minister responds
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has condemned those responsible for setting the building on fire.
“Home Affairs is collating evidence and will open criminal charges against the anarchists who set a block of flats on fire in Germiston, which then spread to the neighbouring Home Affairs office.
“It is nothing less than an attack on our social infrastructure and cannot stand,” Schreiber said.
Rubber bullets
Meanwhile, police fire rubber bullets at illegal occupiers at Pharoe Park who were given eviction notice to leave the apartments.
Residents clashed with municipal workers as they moved into Pharoe Park.
SA Breweries fire
In June, SA Breweries in Soweto was engulfed by a massive fire on a Thursday afternoon.
Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said the blaze reportedly began when grass in a nearby field caught fire.
“Emergency Management Services (EMS) confirms that the fire that erupted in the outdoor crate storage within the premises of SA Breweries has been successfully contained.”
Khumalo added that the structure on the premises was not affected by the blaze.
Article: Caxton publication, The Citizen
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