President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the tragic fire that occurred in Johannesburg's inner city served as a significant warning for South Africa. The blaze claimed the lives of 74 individuals, among them 12 children, in a five-story building that had been taken over by homeless individuals. Additionally, over 50 people sustained injuries.

Earlier, the city of Johannesburg acknowledged its ownership of the building but noted that criminal groups had seized control of it. The precise cause of the fatal fire remains uncertain.

During a press conference held at the fire's location, Mr. Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of conducting an investigation into the incident and extracting valuable lessons from it to prevent similar catastrophes in the future. He asserted, "This event compels us to confront the housing situation within the inner city."

The building had previously functioned as a shelter for abused women and children. However, President Ramaphosa clarified to reporters that it had been unlawfully taken over after the original lease expired.

Numerous properties in the vicinity of the fire have been deemed unsuitable for habitation. Nevertheless, these abandoned structures, which owners or municipal authorities have neglected, are occupied by families who often pay rent to criminal syndicates overseeing them.

Some of those who use the buildings include undocumented migrants, mostly from other African countries.

The buildings, which lack running water, toilets, or a legal electricity connection, are then said to have been "hijacked".

South Africa faces a chronic housing shortage, with an estimated 15,000 people estimated to be homeless in Johannesburg.

"We need to get on top of this and find effective ways of dealing with problems of accommodation, of housing, and services in the inner city," Mr Ramaphosa added.

He also commended emergency services, who arrived at the scene 10 minutes after the fire was reported.

Johannesburg city manager Floyd Brink said 200 families were affected by the fire and "all efforts" were taken to provide accommodation.

A spokesman for the emergency services, Robert Mulaudzi, told the BBC that the fire had gutted the building but firefighters had been able to bring out some of the occupants.

He explained that because the building was not properly looked after, makeshift structures and debris had made it hard to search for and rescue people.

A video posted by Mr Mulaudzi to the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, showed fire trucks and ambulances outside the building with burnt-out windows.

Photos from the scene showed covered bodies lined up near the burned building.

One woman told journalists she was outside the building searching for her 24-year-old daughter.

"As soon as I heard the building was burning down, I knew I had to run here to come and look for her," she said.

"Now that I'm here, I'm kept in suspense because I really don't know what is happening. I don't get any direction - so I'm actually very anxious, I don't know if my daughter is alive."

In a visit to the scene, Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said Johannesburg officials would relocate people living in similar "hijacked" buildings in the city, and turn those buildings into social housing. "We are not going there with brute force," he told reporters, "we are trying to apply a sensitive strategy."

Asked whether his administration would take responsibility for the tragedy, Mr Gwamanda said the government was dealing with the issue of cartels hijacking buildings, which was taking place across the city.

In the wake of the fire, many South Africans on social media condemned the online xenophobic attacks that some have made against the victims and survivors of the fire.

What tragedy, condolence message to those families that lost their loved ones.

Sad