DA Opens Culpable Homicide Case Against Johannesburg Official Over Deadly Usindiso Fire

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has filed a culpable homicide case against Helen Botes, CEO of the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), in connection with the Usindiso building fire that claimed 77 lives in August 2023. The charge was laid at the Johannesburg Central Police Station on Tuesday morning.

The announcement coincided with the party’s State of the City Address (Soca), where it aimed to spotlight Johannesburg’s deepening infrastructure and governance failures—particularly pressing as the city prepares to host the G20 Summit in five months.

DA: “This Tragedy Was Preventable”

DA Chief Whip in the City Council, Nicole Rahn, said the case against Botes was a “necessary and solemn” step after months of public outcry.

“That building had become a ticking time bomb. Illegally occupied, unsafe, and flagged repeatedly to Ms Botes as a serious risk—yet nothing was done,” said Rahn.

The party believes Botes, who has led JPC for over 15 years, failed to act on numerous warnings about the dangerous state of the building. The Khampepe inquiry into the fire reportedly placed responsibility on JPC and its leadership, stating they ignored clear signs of risk.

“Botes, as the CEO and accounting officer, had both the authority and obligation to act. She chose not to for four years,” Rahn added.

Wider Municipal Failures

JPC manages around 28,000 city-owned properties, many of which have deteriorated under poor oversight. The DA says selling just 2,000 of these assets could help plug the city’s R200 billion infrastructure shortfall.

The party also took aim at the 13 municipal entities and their 143 board members, questioning the value they bring to service delivery. DA provincial leader Solly Msimanga said the boards were largely dysfunctional and not aligned with national efforts to prepare for the G20 Summit.

“The people who are the implementors and decision-makers have not been attending the meetings. Council doesn’t even know where this whole project is at,” said Msimanga.

He called for the dissolution of these boards as a first step toward fixing Johannesburg’s governance crisis.

Financial and Infrastructure Collapse

Msimanga pointed out that the City of Johannesburg’s Eskom debt has more than tripled over the last decade, while its Rand Water bill has also doubled—evidence of a city in financial distress.

He said the lack of a coordinated plan between the municipal and provincial governments was making it even harder to attract the investment needed for critical infrastructure.

A Different Vision for Joburg

As part of its Soca, the DA proposed:

• Scrapping proposed property tax increases

• Freezing current utility tariffs

• Repurposing unused city-owned buildings for housing and business use

• Prioritizing investments in electricity and water infrastructure

• Creating jobs through smarter asset use

While the Office of Executive Mayor Dada Morero was contacted for comment, there was no response at the time of publication.

With the G20 Summit on the horizon, the DA is warning that Johannesburg’s credibility is at stake, and that holding officials accountable—starting with the Usindiso fire—may be the first step toward meaningful reform.

{Source: The Citizen}

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