Two people accused of torching the Home Affairs office in Germiston are expected to appear in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning. 

Police said the duo is charged with arson and public violence. 

Their arrests followed last week’s eviction operation in Pharoe Park flats that erupted in chaos. 

Last week, on Tuesday, 422 families were evicted from rental flats in Germiston CBD. 

The unrest followed court-ordered evictions at the Pharoe Park rental complex. 

The evictions, enforced by the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) and SAPS, sparked an arson attack on the Department of Home Affairs building in Germiston.

The low-cost rental flats are owned by the Ekurhuleni Housing Company (EHC), a municipal housing entity. 

The city said 422 tenants had defaulted on rent payments, prompting legal action and eventual evictions.

Gauteng police previously confirmed the arrest of two people on charges of public violence in connection with the fire and protests in the Germiston CBD.

The Department of Home Affairs in Gauteng confirmed that all critical documents, including smart ID cards and passports, were salvaged. 

Gauteng Home Affairs provincial manager Mamokubung Moroke said the most damage occurred on the first floor, which housed administrative and immigration services.

“This is a huge loss in terms of property and equipment, but documents are safe because they were securely locked on the ground floor, which did not catch fire,” Moroke previously told the media in the area.

Moroke added that the ground floor suffered significant water damage from firefighting efforts. Affected clients will need to resubmit their documents.

Home Affairs services will continue via mobile trucks stationed at the Alberton and Boksburg offices.

She said only clients with prior appointments or those turned away due to the fire will be assisted initially.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News

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