Tragedy Strikes Johannesburg: Gang-Hijacked Towers and Deadly Fire

A deadly fire in a derelict building in Johannesburg has shed light on the dire living conditions faced by squatters in hijacked buildings, where criminal gangs charge rent to desperate individuals seeking housing in a country with high unemployment rates. The fire, which claimed the lives of 76 people, has prompted calls for action and exposed the city's affordable housing crisis. The buildings, abandoned by corporations, have become havens for crime and squalor, with residents living in makeshift shacks and using highly flammable materials for privacy. The government's failure to address the issue and allegations of corruption have exacerbated the problem, leaving many vulnerable to further disasters.