Four toddlers die in Mayfair fire at overcrowded house repeatedly flagged by officials

Four young children have died in a devastating fire at an overcrowded Mayfair property—one of 50 dangerous buildings city officials were warned about for years but failed to act on. The blaze, which broke out on Monday, 19 May 2025, left the toddlers burnt beyond recognition, reigniting concerns over slum conditions and city negligence.

The children—identified by community members only as Nadia, Rehana, Patience and Precious—were all between the ages of two and four. They were found dead on a bed in a house where at least 32 people were living, despite it being built for just six.

Picture:Zane Carim

Ignored warnings and unsafe living

Azil Ally, a local ward committee member, said he had warned the City of Johannesburg about the unsafe conditions at the house on 8th Avenue in Ward 58, even submitting a dossier after the deadly Usindiso fire in 2023. One of those warnings led to a contravention notice in 2022, but no enforcement followed.

“I’ve been reporting this since 2021,” Ally said. “The city was fully aware. Now, four children are gone.”

According to Daily Maverick, Ally submitted a list of 50 slum properties to city officials and political leaders, citing concerns like illegal electricity connections and overcrowding. Despite this, officials took no meaningful action.

Tragic fire sparked by faulty wiring

Emergency Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said the fire may have started from a stove explosion linked to a faulty plug. The woman running a makeshift daycare at the home was taken to Brixton Police Station for questioning. Her own twins survived.

Residents described frantic efforts to fight the fire. Some tried tearing through the roof, while others used scarves to shield themselves from smoke as they attempted rescues.

Lawrence Moyo, whose young children escaped the fire, was among those who climbed onto the roof and broke a wall to reach the flames. “We tried everything,” he said, still suffering from smoke inhalation.

Slum conditions and absent landlords

Those living in the house said there were six back rooms, each rented to at least two people at R1,400–R1,700 per room. Most residents are from Malawi and Zimbabwe. The house is reportedly owned by an Ethiopian national who no longer lives in South Africa.

“It’s exploitation,” said Ally. “In a space for six, there are 50 or more living like this. This is happening all over the ward.”

Residents also claimed the city’s own buildings had been hijacked. “Even city-owned properties are turning into slums,” Ally added.

Neglect, corruption and fear

Another resident, Abdul Ntshangase, said local councillors and inspectors only appear after tragedies. “The owners are absent. Infrastructure is falling apart. There’s no enforcement,” he said.

Ally noted that after the Usindiso fire killed 73 people in August 2023, he warned the city again that similar disasters could strike elsewhere. His repeated emails to city planning officials and inspectors were ignored.

He also described the risks of whistleblowing. His home was broken into, and only his laptop—containing data on slum properties—was stolen.

Calls for accountability

Ward 58 Councillor Ricky Nair called the incident a direct result of years of service delivery failure. “For a decade we’ve reported overcrowding, illegal structures, and dangerous living conditions,” he said. “There’s no will to change things. Ward 58 has become the city’s forgotten ward.”

Nair blamed unstable coalition politics and a lack of leadership in city departments. “Until we change the mindset of public officials, tragedies like this will continue.”

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com

Sourced:Daily Maverick

Picture: Joburg EMS/Sowetan Live