The events at 80 Albert Street in Johannesburg were not hidden from public knowledge. In January 2019, city official Mpho Phalatse was appalled by the conditions she witnessed during a visit to the building. She immediately called for the health clinic within the building to be shut down due to sewage leaks, squatters, and unsupervised children in filthy clothes. The building, she described, was uninhabitable. The residents of the neighboring area constantly complained about the crime emanating from the building and the presence of thugs who had taken control of it. The building, which belonged to the city, had been essentially abandoned. The residents of 80 Albert Street pleaded with the police and firefighters for assistance.
The building had shown clear signs of danger over time. In 2019, a report provided to The New York Times highlighted scorched outlets and melted wires, indicating potential fire hazards. Tragically, on a cool winter night in January, a fire broke out at 80 Albert Street at 1 a.m. The fire quickly spread through the building, fueled by makeshift barriers made of cloth and cardboard that separated rooms. Many people, including children, found themselves trapped behind heaps of garbage and locked gates. As a result, at least 76 individuals died. In the days following the fire, it became evident to pundits and ordinary people alike that Johannesburg’s officials were aware of the danger faced by the approximately 600 residents of the building, but appeared to disregard the issue.
Renowned Johannesburg architect and heritage expert Brian McKechnie expressed his dismay at the situation, stating that no one willingly chooses to live in a hijacked building. The city had failed its residents, and the injustice of the situation was mind-boggling. 80 Albert Street serves as a symbol of South Africa’s troubling past and present. Built in 1954, it was originally used as the dreaded Pass Office during apartheid. Black individuals had to endure degrading encounters with clerks in order to obtain passes to travel to white areas for work. The building briefly flourished as a women’s shelter after apartheid, but eventually became a home of last resort, with conditions steadily declining.
The building’s demise cannot be attributed to a single problem or oversight. It was a culmination of factors, including the failure of law enforcement to address the presence of thugs, the inaction of city officials in removing residents, and the inadequacy of emergency services. These issues were exacerbated by the housing crisis, migration patterns, South Africa’s economic decline, and the political struggles faced by the ruling African National Congress (ANC). The ANC’s shortcomings have given rise to local coalition governments, resulting in infighting and a lack of effective leadership to tackle the city’s problems.
Perhaps the most alarming aspect is the resignation expressed by city officials regarding the events at 80 Albert Street. While they acknowledge the tragedy, they view it as an inevitable outcome. Mlimandlela Ndamase, the spokesperson for the mayor, stated that various city agencies, including the police, the housing department, and the mayor’s office, were aware of the situation. The building had been listed as problematic for eight years and had been raided by the police and building inspectors in 2019. However, finding a solution was not straightforward. Mr. Ndamase stated that there are approximately 140 buildings similar to 80 Albert Street that could face a similar fate due to the city’s reality.
The fate of 80 Albert Street mirrors the state of its surroundings. After the end of apartheid, South African cities experienced a significant outflow of capital. Johannesburg’s central business district slowly deteriorated, with empty buildings and unsafe streets becoming the norm. Despite these challenges, the women’s shelter persisted. For Xoli Mbayimbayi, who moved in as a teenager, the shelter provided a sense of belonging. However, in 2013, a dispute over the lease between the shelter and the government led to its closure. Many women remained, vulnerable to the thugs who subsequently took over. In downtown Johannesburg, numerous buildings owned by the government or abandoned landlords have fallen into disrepair, becoming targets for squatters and slumlords.
A long history of warnings regarding the condition of 80 Albert Street began in 2015, when criminals invaded the building. Building inspectors repeatedly notified the Johannesburg Property Company and Usindiso Ministries, the nonprofit organization that ran the women’s shelter, about the deteriorating conditions. However, no action was taken. In 2018, the city’s environmental health department urgently requested that the city’s property managers address the building’s worsening state. By 2019, an inspection report highlighted alarming issues such as the presence of shacks in the yard, broken doors and windows, and a destroyed emergency fire system. Despite these reports, the city failed to act.
According to Mr. Ndamase, evicting people from dangerous buildings is difficult due to the legal requirement of providing alternative housing. Johannesburg lacks the necessary housing to accommodate the thousands of individuals living in dilapidated buildings. The tragedy at 80 Albert Street is a sobering reflection of the surrounding environment. It serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by South Africa and the urgent need for effective solutions to address its housing crisis, economic decline, and political instability.
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