SACC to hold memorial service for Johannesburg fire victims

Women react after a deadly blaze in the early hours of the morning, in Johannesburg on August 31 (PHOTO: Reuters/SABC News)

Originally published in SABC News

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) in Gauteng will this morning hold a memorial service for the victims of the Albert Street fire in Johannesburg’s city centre.

Last week, a fire gutted a five-storey building, killing over 70 people and leaving scores of others injured, in the illegally occupied building in Marshalltown.

Bishop Dr White Makabe Rakuba, Chairperson of the SACC In Gauteng, also commended the emergency services personnel who did their best to save people from the burning building…

- Advertisement -

“We’re remembering all those people who have been affected, those who lost lives, those who lost property and those who have been somehow affected. The memorial service starts at 10am this morning at the Central Methodist Church. It is at the corner of Pritchard, and Small street, opposite the high court. The memorial is open to everyone who wants to come. This was a devastating fire, to their best ability, the emergency services did actually respond, unfortunately they could not save everyone.”

Inner-city buildings
Many inner-city buildings are in an advanced state of disrepair around the country.

They are often without water and electricity, dark, forbidding and dangerous.

- Advertisement -

But they are the places where thousands of people, including immigrants find refuge. Matthew Wilhelm-Solomon has documented the struggles they experience in his book, The Blinded City. Ten years in Inner City Johannesburg.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Please help us to keep on publishing news that brings Hope in Jesus:

>> Donate  >> Become a Super Subscriber

VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/gatewaynews100

Click to join movement

COMMENTING GUIDELINES
You are welcome to engage with our articles by making comments [in the Comments area below] that add value to a topic or to engage in thoughtful, constructive discussion with fellow readers. Comments that contain vulgar language will be removed. Hostile, demeaning, disrespectful, propagandistic and off-topic comments may also be moved. This is a Christian website and if you wish to vent against Christian beliefs you have probably come to the wrong place and your comments may be removed. Ongoing debates and repetitiveness will not be tolerated. You will also disqualify yourself from commenting if you engage in trolling.

Comments are closed.