A fire broke out at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) offices located in the heart of Johannesburg’s Central Business District (CBD).
ANOTHER Joburg CBD building inferno: What caused the SARS office fire?
The incident, which unfolded in the Marshalltown area on a Wednesday afternoon, prompted the swift evacuation of SARS employees.
As of now, the precise cause of the fire remains unclear, and emergency services are actively engaged in responding to the blaze.
City of Johannesburg EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba confirmed that all individuals within the building were safely evacuated.
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She mentioned that preliminary investigations into the fire’s cause will be conducted once the firefighting efforts are complete.
This incident marks the third fire reported within Johannesburg’s CBD in just one month, adding to growing concerns about fire safety within the city.
Tragically, one of these recent incidents involved a hijacked building that claimed the lives of 77 residents on 31 August 2023.
The latest fire at the SARS building occurred shortly after the City of Johannesburg temporarily closed its offices in the Braamfontein area due to issues related to faulty transformers and a fire event that transpired on the preceding Saturday, per IOL News.
Among the individuals evacuated from the SARS building were prominent city figures, including City of Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, City Manager Cilliers Brink, and Speaker Colleen Makhubele.
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Prevalence of Building Fires in Johannesburg:
The recent spate of fires in Johannesburg, including the devastating incident in which 77 individuals perished in an abandoned building, highlights a concerning trend in the city.
Abandoned and neglected structures have become potential fire hazards, endangering both residents and property.
These incidents have raised awareness about the importance of thorough inspections and the necessity of closing down inhabitable and health-hazardous buildings throughout Johannesburg.
City officials and emergency services are working diligently to address these challenges and enhance fire safety protocols across the city.
This remains an ongoing story, and further updates on the SARS building fire will be provided as additional details emerge regarding the incident and its implications.