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Pope Francis Offers Prayers for “unfortunate victims” of Fire Tragedy in South Africa

Pope Francis addressed pilgrims and tourists at his first outdoor general audience after the summer on Sept. 6, 2023. | Vatican Media

By Magdalene Kahiu

Vatican, 06 September, 2023 / 3:50 pm (ACI Africa).

Pope Francis has offered prayers for the victims of the August 31 inferno on a five-storey building in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Speaking to pilgrims who gathered in St Peter's Square for his weekly Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis said he learned “with deep sorrow” about the inferno that claimed the lives of at least 74 people, including 12 children, and 24 women.

"I ask you to join me in praying for the unfortunate victims,” the Holy Father said during his Wednesday, September 6 address, and added, “To the family members I express my condolences, and I send a special Blessing for them and for those who are working to provide assistance and support.”

The fire that gutted down the previously abandoned building hosting more than 200 homeless families in Marshalltown in central Johannesburg reportedly left at least 50 people injured. 

On September 1, members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) said the inferno was "of horrific proportions reminiscent of the Grenfell Towers fire in London in 2017."

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The SACBC members said they were “deeply disturbed” by utterances that downplayed the impact of the inferno following a South African Minister’s reaction to the fire tragedy.

The Catholic Church leaders drawn from Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa highlighted remarks by Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni as one of the "profoundly disturbing” responses to the inferno.

The Minister in the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa said it is not the government’s responsibility to provide housing for illegal migrants.

"We have been deeply disturbed by some political statements that attempt to diminish the depth of the tragedy because illegal immigrants are among those killed," SACBC members said. 

They added that those who lost their lives in the inferno "were people – our brothers and sisters – and to dismiss them as 'illegal immigrants' perpetuates the dangerous anti-immigrant rhetoric that is being normalized."

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Meanwhile, members of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) also condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in the Johannesburg inferno.

In their August 31 statement, SACC members said they “noted with deep shock” the fire incident. 

The Christian leaders called on faith-based organizations in the country to offer spiritual and material support to the affected people. They said, “The Council is continuing to seek ways of mobilizing the churches in the area to be of pastoral support to the residents.”

On his part, the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, called for investigations into the cause of the fire.

Magdalene Kahiu

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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