Criminal elements were behind the fire that broke out at Kruger Park flats in the Pretoria CBD on Tuesday, Tshwane mayor Gwen Ramokgopa said.
She announced that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident, but could not say if the three were tenants at the flats.
Ramokgopa described the matter in which six people died after the flats were set alight as ”regrettable”. Among the dead were four adults and a toddler.
About 25 others, including a fire officer, were injured.
Evictions were stopped late on Tuesday afternoon while residents were being evacuated to assess damage to the property.
”All residents have been evacuated in order to assess the safety of the building,” said the mayor. ”It is not possible for people to go into the building now and we’re looking at alternative sites.
”Already blankets and food have been arranged. Residents have been found alternative accommodation in Akasia with immediate effect.”
The city issued 39 tenants with notices of eviction after it emerged that many had defaulted on their monthly rents.
”From the humanitarian point of view we instructed the suspension of the evictions of the rest of the 39 people,” said Ramokgopa.
This came, however, after the Pretoria High Court granted residents an interim interdict to stop the evictions.
This followed an urgent application from the residents, an outbreak of violence and the fire that broke out in the Kruger Park flats on Tuesday morning.
The mayor reiterated that the city had called on residents since last year to find alternative accommodation as the complexes were to undergo renovation. However, she rejected claims that all due processes had not been followed in the eviction process.
‘It was a legal action … [the] due process was followed,” said Ramokgopa.
The city manager was expected to present a report to the mayoral committee on Wednesday morning detailing options including the setting-up of an a investigation team.
Ramokgopa also conveyed condolences to the families of the dead. — Sapa