Usindiso building set for private bidder three years after fatal fire

Three years after a catastrophic fire that claimed 76 lives and injured dozens of people at the Usindiso building on 80 Albert Street, the City of Johannesburg has announced plans to put the historic building up for private tender by the end of September.

The disaster struck on August 31 2023, when a fire swept through the overcrowded, five-storey municipal-owned building.

After the incident, the damaged structure faced illegal occupations by homeless people. However, the city took measures to secure the property against unauthorised access and reinvasion.

Lower floors have been sealed with concrete, and physical entry is prohibited, as the site is deemed unsafe for human occupation and entry.

To maintain order, Johannesburg metro police officers regularly patrol the surrounding streets, while a dedicated guard shack has been constructed directly outside the perimeter with a guard stationed 24/7.

The Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) is currently overseeing these measures while awaiting the outcome of a land use application to alienate the property through a long-term development lease.

For surrounding community members, the physical lockdown of the site has brought a safer environment compared with the high crime rates that plagued the area before August 2023.

SM Langa, a queue marshal who has worked on the street since 2014, recalled how dangerous the area used to be for commuters, noting that people feared carrying their phones or purses on the streets. While mourning the tragic loss of life, he said local crime has dropped significantly.

“It’s safe now,” Langa said. “People are no longer getting mugged. Crime is almost non-existent compared with the time before the fire.”

Across the street at Marshall Yards, building manager Collen Sibiya witnessed the horror unfolding firsthand. Three years later, the psychological scars remain fresh. He recalled watching trapped occupants jump from upper-story windows to escape the flames.

“People died in front of us,” Sibiya said. “That trauma stayed with many people, including me and my children. Some of those who died were our friends. It became deeply personal. We still miss them.”

Sibiya, who agreed that the area is safer today, said grieving families still periodically visit the secured perimeter searching for answers or closure regarding missing loved ones.

Despite the extent of the fire damage and visible structural deterioration, the JPC said the building will not be demolished.

“A comprehensive structural assessment was undertaken by an independent structural engineer, who confirmed that, notwithstanding the fire damage, the condition of the building does not warrant demolition,” said Lucky Sindane, senior manager of marketing and communications at the JPC.