Two Years After the Usindiso Fire – Survivors Still Waiting for a Place to Call Home

On 31 August 2023, a fire tore through the Usindiso building in downtown Johannesburg, killing 76 people and injuring dozens more. It was one of the deadliest residential fires in South Africa’s history — quickly compared to London’s Grenfell Tower disaster for its scale, its symbolism, and the questions it raised about urban neglect.

Two years later, many of the survivors are still waiting for the promises made in the aftermath to materialise. For them, the fire was not the end of a nightmare, but the beginning of a long, grinding displacement.

Life in Limbo

Vusi Tshabalala remembers the night in fragments: the smell of smoke, the heat, the wet blanket he wrapped around himself before running through the flames. He survived, but the life he knew did not.

“Different places, they take us. But they didn’t provide us with anything. I don’t see any change. If people are still living like this, I do not see any change.” — Vusi Tshabalala

Today, he is still without a permanent home — shuttled between temporary shelters and unsafe buildings. His story is echoed by dozens of others who escaped the blaze only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of temporary accommodation, uncertainty, and fear.

Here’s the sidebar timeline you can drop straight into the expanded Usindiso fire feature — styled to match the way we’ve been packaging your long‑form pieces, so it sits visually alongside the main narrative without breaking flow.

Promises Deferred

In the days after the fire, city and national officials pledged emergency accommodation, counselling, and a pathway to dignified housing. But according to survivors and advocacy groups, those commitments have stalled.

Thobeka Biyela, another survivor, works as a police volunteer. Earlier this year she was shot while sleeping in her temporary home. The bullet remains lodged in her body; she lives with chronic pain.

“I was shot while I was asleep. Doctors didn’t remove the bullet. I have to buy pain pills. It’s not safe here. I really blame the government for what is happening.” — Thobeka Biyela

Her experience underscores a cruel irony: the very shelters meant to protect survivors have exposed them to new dangers.

The Legal Fight

Nomzamo Zondo, executive director of the Socio‑Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI), has been representing survivors in their push for relocation. She says moving people from emergency shelters into permanent housing has proven far more difficult than officials anticipated.

“The G20 is just two months away. In that time, it’s unlikely that much will be done. Our hope is that the commitment to improving the inner city will outlive the G20.” — Nomzamo Zondo

SERI has filed multiple court applications to compel the City of Johannesburg to act, arguing that the Constitution guarantees the right to adequate housing. But legal victories have been slow to translate into bricks and mortar.

A City Under the Spotlight

With Johannesburg set to host the G20 leaders’ summit in November, President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered a clean‑up of the inner city. Critics fear this will prioritise cosmetic fixes over systemic change — a fresh coat of paint on the same unsafe structures.

Urban planning experts warn that “city beautification” projects ahead of major events often lead to the displacement of vulnerable communities. In the run‑up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, for example, informal traders and shack dwellers in several host cities were moved to the periphery, often without adequate services.

The Anatomy of a Disaster

The Usindiso building was a “hijacked” property — a term used in Johannesburg for abandoned or poorly managed buildings taken over by informal landlords. Residents pay rent, but without formal leases, legal protections, or maintenance. Fire safety measures are often non‑existent: no alarms, no sprinklers, faulty wiring, blocked exits.

A 2019 City of Johannesburg audit identified more than 600 such buildings in the inner city, many flagged as high‑risk. Yet enforcement has been sporadic, hampered by legal disputes over ownership, limited budgets, and political will.

Policy Gaps and Governance Failures

Housing activists argue that the Usindiso fire was not an isolated tragedy but the predictable outcome of systemic neglect. South Africa’s housing backlog is estimated at over 2.3 million units. In Gauteng, rapid urbanisation has outpaced the state’s ability to provide affordable, safe accommodation.

The Emergency Housing Programme, designed to provide immediate shelter after disasters, has been criticised for being slow, under‑resourced, and overly bureaucratic. Survivors of the 2017 Bank of Lisbon building fire — which killed three firefighters — also reported years‑long waits for permanent housing.

The Human Toll of Displacement

Beyond the physical dangers of unsafe shelters, survivors face psychological trauma. Many lost family members, friends, and all their possessions in the fire. The instability of temporary housing compounds feelings of grief and anxiety.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Lerato Mokoena notes that prolonged displacement can lead to “complex trauma” — a combination of post‑traumatic stress, depression, and a loss of trust in institutions. “When promises are broken repeatedly, it reinforces a sense of abandonment,” she says.

Comparative Lessons: Grenfell and Beyond

The parallels with London’s 2017 Grenfell Tower fire are striking: both involved vulnerable communities living in unsafe conditions, both exposed regulatory failures, and both triggered public promises of reform. In the UK, survivors have also criticised the slow pace of rehousing and the lack of accountability.

Internationally, best practice after such disasters includes:

• Immediate, safe, and stable housing for survivors.
• Transparent timelines for permanent rehousing.
• Independent inquiries with binding recommendations.
• Ongoing mental health support.

What Would Justice Look Like?

For survivors, justice is not just about compensation or memorials — it’s about secure, dignified housing and the assurance that no one else will endure what they have. That requires:

• Enforcing building safety regulations.
• Investing in affordable housing in well‑located areas.
• Holding negligent landlords and officials accountable.
• Involving affected communities in decision‑making.

The Road Ahead

As the G20 summit approaches, the City of Johannesburg has an opportunity — and an obligation — to demonstrate that it can address the root causes of the Usindiso tragedy. That means resisting the temptation to focus solely on optics and instead committing to substantive, measurable change.

For Vusi Tshabalala, Thobeka Biyela, and dozens of others, the clock is ticking. Each day without a permanent home is another day in limbo, another reminder that survival is not the same as recovery.

Two Years After the Usindiso Fire — A Timeline

31 Aug 2023 – The Fire
A blaze engulfs the Usindiso building in central Johannesburg, killing 76 people and injuring dozens. The building, a former women’s shelter, had been “hijacked” and was operating without formal management or safety systems.

1–7 Sep 2023 – Immediate Aftermath
City and national officials promise emergency accommodation, counselling, and a pathway to permanent housing. NGOs and faith groups provide food, clothing, and temporary shelter.

Oct 2023 – Audit Findings
A City of Johannesburg audit confirms more than 600 hijacked buildings in the inner city, many flagged as high‑risk for fire and structural collapse.

Nov 2023 – Feb 2024 – Temporary Housing Strain
Survivors are moved between community halls, shelters, and other abandoned buildings. Reports emerge of unsafe conditions, overcrowding, and lack of basic services.

Apr 2024 – Legal Action Begins
The Socio‑Economic Rights Institute (SERI) files court papers demanding the City provide safe, adequate housing in line with constitutional obligations.

Aug 2024 – One Year On
Memorial events highlight the lack of progress. Survivors speak to media about ongoing displacement and trauma.

Feb 2025 – Funding Gaps
City officials cite budget constraints and legal disputes over building ownership as reasons for delays in rehousing.

30 Aug 2025 – Two Years On
Survivors like Vusi Tshabalala and Thobeka Biyela remain in unsafe temporary accommodation. With the G20 summit looming, activists warn against cosmetic “clean‑ups” that ignore systemic housing failures.