Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

IN PICTURES: Joburg’s bad policies and burnt buildings

1 min read
80 Albert Street in Marshalltown caught fire last year and claimed the lives of 77 people.
80 Albert Street in Marshalltown caught fire last year and claimed the lives of 77 people.

This week, the Mail & Guardian took a deep dive into the circumstances that surrounded the death of 77 people who were burnt to death in a building in the middle of Africa’s richest city.

Delwyn Verasamy’s photographs capture the despair of the abandoned people who live in Joburg’s decaying buildings.

The remains of the burnt building in Johannesburg. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
The remains of the burnt building in Johannesburg. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
Emergency medical services in the building at 80 Albert Street in Marshalltown, Johannesburg. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
Emergency medical services in the building at 80 Albert Street in Marshalltown, Johannesburg. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
The remains of the burnt building in Johannesburg. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
The remains of the burnt building in Johannesburg. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
Just the beginning: The 80 Albert Street blaze was a tragedy waiting to happen – as are many other buildings in the city. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
Just the beginning: The 80 Albert Street blaze was a tragedy waiting to happen – as are many other buildings in the city. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
State of disaster: Edith Mbambisa was one of 150 people sent to Moth. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
State of disaster: Edith Mbambisa was one of 150 people sent to Moth. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
Councillors hold a press conference on the housing problem years in the making. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
Councillors hold a press conference on the housing problem years in the making. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)