Joburg's heart of darkness
A devastating fire killed 74 people in a hijacked building owned by the City of Johannesburg in August 2023. For those who live and work in the inner city, it was a tragedy waiting to happen. One year later, read the latest news below on the lessons unlearned and actions undone since the deadly Marshalltown fire.
Daily Maverick’s in-depth investigations, published in 2022, exposed Joburg’s dark heart—marked by criminality, neglect, and threats of violence. These reports provide crucial context for understanding the systemic issues that contributed to the devastating fire tragedy in 2023.
Read the latest news
From rooftops to alleyways, Contra.Joburg connects diverse hubs to redefine the art fair
A ‘decentralised art fair’ is how Sara Hallatt describes this year’s Contra.Joburg. The 2025 iteration, taking place from 30 to 31 August 2025, aims to once again bring audiences into the city centre for a weekend in order to engage with ‘designers and makers across unconventional spaces… from rooftops and alleyways to galleries and forgotten buildings’.
Field of dreams — Jozi’s inner city gets an educational makeover
The Maharishi Invincibility Institute in Marshalltown, Johannesburg is aiming to turn this downtown precinct into an enlightening space where thousands of students can learn, live and play.
Khampepe commission faces setbacks as Johannesburg City delays vital evidence submission deadline again
Justice for the Usindiso inferno victims remains a distant dream as the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry faces delays, while the court case of the confessed arsonist, Sithembiso Lawrence Mdlalose, has come to a standstill. He was arrested more than a year ago and remains in custody.
Young survivors of the Usindiso inferno unplaced in schools — 17 months later
The Gauteng Department of Education has delayed placing 65 pupils who survived the Usindiso inferno, despite a November 2024 high court order to place the children within 30 days, a timeline which expired in December.
Walks of life — stroll through Joburg reveals many sides of a renewed inner-city
A walking tour of Joburg’s mining district reveals a beautiful, safe space with a sense of community.
Lest we forget: lessons unlearned, actions undone one year after the deadly Marshalltown fire
Some survivors of the Usindiso fire, one of the deadliest in South African history, will hold a vigil on 31 August 2023 to commemorate the 76 lives lost. While the vigil begins at 3pm on Saturday, some survivors plan to boycott the event, as the tragedy remains a painful memory.
Due to a lack of affordable and decent housing options in the inner city of Johannesburg, abandoned or hijacked buildings have become homes and refuges for many vulnerable groups.
By Michelle Banda
Inner cities are spaces to live, work freely, learn and play. However, under the banner of democracy, the urban poor continue to be marginalised by being denied affordable low-income housing options.
By Michelle Banda
When Operation Dudula sprang up it quickly launched campaigns targeting immigrants, threatening to evict occupants from a derelict building in inner-city Johannesburg. The threat left more than 400 people — including people living with disabilities — in fear of attacks and deportations. Some packed up and fled. Authorities have since closed the building.
By Daily Maverick Reporters
Housing shortages are one of the biggest problems faced by the underprivileged in Johannesburg — fuelled by rapid population growth. The City of Johannesburg is facing a 500,000-strong housing backlog, with at least 100,000 people living homeless, according to the city’s last count five years ago.
Housing shortages are one of the biggest problems faced by the underprivileged in Johannesburg — fuelled by rapid population growth. The City of Johannesburg is facing a 500,000-strong housing backlog, with at least 100,000 people living homeless, according to the city’s last count five years ago.
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