# The commission of inquiry into the Usindiso building fire, which claimed at least 77 lives in 2023, found Johannesburg’s housing crisis is driven by poverty and a lack of affordable housing, not just hijacked buildings. Inspecting 110 properties, the commission, headed by Justice Sisi Khampepe, revealed that nearly 80-percent pose severe fire risks, with most lacking basic services such as water, electricity, and sanitation. The report accuses the city of failing to provide housing and leaving over 30-thousand households in unsafe conditions.
Commission shatters Johannesburg hijacked building myth, flags poverty and housing crisis