Conflicting reports of blaze victims in Johannesburg

By Tichaona Sibanda
31 March 2006

Three days after a blaze killed at least 12 people in a building occupied by refugees in South Africa, it is still difficult to get confirmation of details.

Initial reports from Johannesburg suggested on Wednesday that the majority of those who perished in the blaze could have been refugees from Zimbabwe, but latest information available reveals that a number of the victims came from Malawi.

Malawi Foreign Affairs minister Davis Katsonga confirmed from Lilongwe on Friday that seven of the dead were Malawi nationals and that their next-of-kin would be informed as soon as more details were received.

The South Africa Press Association quoted him saying his government was seeking more details about the fire. Sox Chikohwero, vice-chairman of the Zimbabwe Civic Society Organisation, said the group strongly believes that some Zimbabweans died in the blaze.

‘We have tried but failed to get the exact figure of Zimbabweans killed or injured in that blaze because of the sensitivity of this tragedy. But we have heard from some of the surviving refugees that some of the women victims were Zimbabwean,’ said Chikohwero.

The civic group plans to visit the mortuary were the bodies were taken to try and help with the identification process.