The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) has confirmed the arrest of two suspects linked to the fire that gutted the Department of Home Affairs offices in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, on Tuesday morning. Authorities believe the blaze was deliberately started during a protest connected to an eviction operation in a nearby residential complex.
Protest Turns Violent
According to EMPD acting Chief of Police JD Mkhwanazi, the suspects—whose identities have not yet been released—were part of a group that blocked roads leading to the Pharopark low-cost housing complex. The roadblocks were allegedly set up to prevent law enforcement officials from carrying out a court-mandated eviction.
A court order issued on 26 June instructed residents illegally occupying units in the complex to vacate the premises. However, some residents claimed they had not been formally notified of the eviction, sparking tensions that boiled over into violence.
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“We were here in the early hours to effect a court order removing those who occupied Pharopark low-cost housing illegally. When we came, we found them closing the streets, closing everything, burning tires,” Mkhwanazi said. “We were able to identify the instigators, and they are being processed.”
The suspects now face multiple charges, including arson, damage to private property, defying court orders, and vandalism.
Fire at Home Affairs Offices
As the protest escalated, the two-storey Home Affairs building in Germiston was set alight. Thick smoke billowed into the sky as emergency services rushed to contain the flames. Several nearby buildings were evacuated and closed for safety reasons. President Street and Jack Street, both in the vicinity of the Home Affairs offices, remain closed to traffic.
While no injuries have been reported, the damage to the facility is expected to disrupt services for thousands of residents who rely on the office for essential documentation, such as identity cards, passports, and birth certificates.
More Arrests Expected
Mkhwanazi confirmed that police are still working to identify additional suspects, and more arrests are likely in the coming days. “The investigation is ongoing, and we will ensure that everyone responsible for these acts is held accountable,” he said.
ANC Condemns Destruction of Public Property
The African National Congress (ANC) in the City of Ekurhuleni has strongly condemned the incident, calling it an attack on citizens’ rights and on the state’s ability to provide essential services.
Regional Secretary Jongizizwe Dlabathi criticised those who destroy public infrastructure, saying such actions ultimately harm communities. “Public infrastructure belongs to the people, and its destruction robs communities of access to vital services. Those who claim adherence to the rule of law while advancing misguided notions of how government should function are misleading citizens and fuelling lawlessness,” he said.
The ANC urged residents to seek lawful and constructive means to resolve disputes, warning that violent protests and attacks on service facilities undermine social stability and economic development.
Authorities are now assessing the extent of the damage to the Germiston Home Affairs building and working on contingency plans to resume services as soon as possible.
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