South Africa’s Germiston Home Affairs office destroyed in fiery eviction protests
South Africa’s Germiston Home Affairs office on fire
The Germiston branch of the Department of Home Affairs was gutted by fire on Tuesday morning, following violent protests linked to the eviction of unlawful occupants from nearby low-cost housing units.
Gauteng’s acting police commissioner, Major-General Fred Kekana, confirmed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident. They face charges of arson, public violence, and malicious damage to essential infrastructure, with more arrests expected as investigations continue.
The unrest was triggered by the enforcement of a 26 June court order obtained by the Ekurhuleni municipality, instructing the removal of illegal occupants from state-owned flats. Despite repeated warnings to vacate voluntarily, some residents refused to comply. “In the early hours, before our teams could arrive, roads were blockaded to prevent us from entering the property,” Kekana said. “When police tried to enter, stones were thrown at them, damaging private vehicles. Some of the people went on to burn the Home Affairs offices to the ground. That cannot be tolerated.”
Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department spokesperson Julius Mkhwanazi revealed that the unlawful occupation had persisted for some time. Investigations showed that some individuals were subletting the low-cost units, meant for housing beneficiaries, to tenants, including officials with multiple properties. “We have identified and arrested instigators. If they continue to defy this court order, we will arrest all of them. They should challenge it in court, not burn property. We are also going to secure these buildings after the eviction to prevent reoccupation,” Mkhwanazi warned.
The blaze broke out shortly after the unrest began. Emergency services cordoned off the area, with firefighters from multiple stations responding to the scene. William Ntladi, spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, confirmed that President Street and Jack Street were closed for safety reasons and that surrounding buildings had been evacuated. “Resources are here, multiple stations with multiple vehicles, and a number of firefighters are on site,” Ntladi said. “So far, no casualties have been reported, and the actual cause of the fire is still undetermined.”
The protests are believed to be driven by residents demanding to be allowed back into the flats without paying rent, a demand that authorities have rejected. The destruction of the Home Affairs office is likely to further strain relations between the community and local government.
Police have assured the public that the matter will be investigated thoroughly, with additional arrests expected. The burned building will remain closed until further notice.
