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Four Arrested for Germiston Home Affairs Fire as Eviction Protest Turns Violent

Eviction Protest Erupts into Blaze
What began as a tense eviction protest in Pharoe Park, Germiston, has ended with four people in police custody and a critical public service hub in ruins.
On Tuesday, residents took to the streets over evictions linked to unpaid rent. By the end of the day, flames had gutted part of the local Home Affairs office, leaving thousands of residents without access to vital services.
Witnesses say a petrol bomb was hurled at the building’s first floor during the chaos. The fire quickly spread from an adjacent block of flats into the government facility, forcing officials to scramble to protect records and redirect services.
Minister Vows Swift Justice
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber confirmed two arrests immediately after the incident, with two more suspects added to the list by Thursday. All four, he emphasised, are South African citizens.
“This was nothing less than an attack on our social infrastructure, and it cannot stand,” Schreiber said, adding that his department is working closely with SAPS to secure convictions. Mobile Home Affairs units have since been deployed to Germiston to help residents replace documents and access urgent services.
Political Leaders Condemn the Destruction
The ANC in Ekurhuleni condemned the torching as “deliberate destruction” and “a violation of human rights,” urging law enforcement to act decisively.
They warned that political rhetoric aimed at undermining government processes risks fuelling lawlessness. “Public infrastructure belongs to the people, and its destruction robs communities of access to vital services,” the party said.
Why It Matters
Germiston’s Home Affairs office services thousands of people for everything from birth registrations to passports. Its destruction is more than a symbolic loss; it is a practical blow to residents who now face longer waits and extra travel for basic documentation.
On social media, reactions have been split between outrage at the violence and frustration over the underlying housing disputes that sparked the protests. Community leaders have called for mediation, warning that destructive protests only compound the struggles of the very residents they aim to defend.
With the suspects set to face court, the incident has reignited debate over how South Africa handles civil unrest and at what point protest crosses the line into criminal sabotage.
Also read: Germiston Evictions Leave Hundreds Homeless as Mayor Vows No Compromise on Law and Order
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: MSN