President Cyril Ramaphosa has conveyed his profound sorrow for the huge number of fatalities caused by a fire that broke out in a residential building in Marshalltown, Johannesburg, early on Thursday, August 31, 2023.
As of this morning at 8:30 a.m., 73 people had been confirmed dead, while many more were injured and needing medical care.
President Ramaphosa extends his sincere condolences to the relatives of the deceased and sends his best wishes for a quick and complete recovery to the injured survivors.
The President is also thinking of the families and individuals who have lost their homes and belongings in this disaster.
The President said: “This is a great tragedy felt by families whose loved ones perished in this awful manner, and our hearts go out to every person affected by this event.
“This incident calls on all of us, from the emergency services and other entities of government to community-based organisations, to reach out to survivors to help restore people’s physical psychological wellbeing and offer all material help residents may need.”
President Ramaphosa hopes that the fire probe will help communities and authorities stop a similar tragedy from happening again or identify and prosecute any guilty parties.
