Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite by Cllr Nicole Rahn here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg has laid criminal charges of culpable homicide against Ms. Helen Botes, the Chief Executive Officer of Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), for the tragic fire at Usindiso Building on 31 August 2023, which claimed 77 lives.
The charges stem from gross negligence and dereliction of duty that allegedly led to the preventable deaths in the city-owned building at 80 Albert Street.
This was not an unforeseeable disaster. The building was illegally occupied and structurally unsafe, for years. Despite repeated warnings, no action was taken – 77 lives were lost as a result.
The Khampepe Commission’s findings confirmed what the DA has long warned: the City of Johannesburg and the JPC failed to uphold their constitutional duty to protect life, dignity, and safety. The report found that enforcement was neglected, leadership was absent, and city-owned buildings were allowed to deteriorate into deadly hazards.
The findings further recommended disciplinary action against the relevant officials at the City, the JPC and other entities who contravened their duties, the City has not enforced these findings.
Ms. Botes, as the accounting officer of JPC, had the authority—and responsibility—to act and didn’t. She sat on this information for four years. That level of negligence cannot be brushed aside. It must be tested in a court of law. Accountability cannot continue to be optional in South Africa.
The R27 million allegedly spent on emergency accommodation for survivors of the fire is also questionable based on the poor quality of accommodation provided to the survivors.
The DA has called on the South African Police Service to fully investigate the matter and has requested that the case be escalated to the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority.
The DA will not rest until justice is served—for the 77 lives lost, for their families, and for the integrity of our city. We believe in a government that is transparent, accountable, and compassionate. We cannot allow this tragedy to be swept under the rug.