Hilbrow Flats apartment engulfed in flames

A Hilbrow Flats apartment caught fire on Friday, October 7, 2022 in the late afternoon.

At this time, it is unclear what started the fire.

Before fire personnel arrived on the site, community members who were swift were able to put out the majority of the fire.

Community members pulled a mother and her two children out of the burning apartment; they were unharmed and only required treatment for shock and smoke inhalation.

The City of Johannesburg Fire Department, Saaberie Chishty Ambulance Services (SCAS), and Fire and Rescue Team all arrived on the site quickly and helped extinguish the fire.

Eight people in total received medical attention for smoke inhalation by the paramedics and one of them was taken to the hospital for serious smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire will be investigated by the Fire Department. 

To watch the video please click the link below:

https://youtu.be/LF4aRKNIlYk

Two men alleged grabbed by members of Lapland

Even after months have passed, Lapland Dumpsite on Union Road in Eldorado Park continues to be a hotspot for crime. 

 On 27 September 2022, shortly after 7 a.m., neighbours to the dumpsite observed two men—Johnny Mashudu (28) and Tebogo Nare (36)—being carried into the site by unidentified Lapland members. 

 

A woman yelling, "Can somebody come out here to Union Road, at Lapland, the Basotho males have weapons, and they are simply looking, and they are hitting and killing a coloured man," filled the Eldorado Park groups with messages. 

 

Police were at the scene quickly. Brigadier Lesley Lloyd, the station commander of Kliptown SAPS, reported receiving a call from community leader Dereleen James, who informed him that people are being beaten and pulled at Lapland.

 

Brigadier Lloyd said: "I jumped in my car and drove right over to the location, where I discovered police officers already there. We were informed that the two victims dragged the boys into the scene after allegedly stealing something from the youngsters at Lapland. Six to seven police officers were dispatched, and they entered the location where the two men were being beaten and bound.” 

 

Brigadier Lloyd stated that the two guys were not assaulted in front of them.  They only discovered the two men with their wrists bound behind their bodies, and the outraged residents of Lapland told the police that they were upset because the thieves were robbing them. 

 

The community members were asked by Brigadier Lloyd to initiate a case, but they declined as well, and the two victims have the right to file a claim against the aggressors.

 

“No case has been opened currently, and no arrests have been made so far. We need people to give statements in order for us to open up a case and the man from Lapland are not prepared to give us any statements” explained Brigadier Lloyd.

 

"At this time, no cases have been filed, and no arrests have been made. The individual from Lapland is not willing to offer us any statements, and we need people to provide statements in order to open a case,” according to Brigadier Lloyd. 

 

Nicolene Campbell and Fagmeda Edries, two female warriors from Eldorado Park, were among the few brave women who ran across the street to try to help the two victims.

 

Campbell claims, "We initially believed that Basotho natives were robbing the coloured males. The Basotho men pulled out their weapons while we were yelling. As Fagmeda and his squad entered to search for the two men who had been abducted by the men, we fled out of fear. 

 

According to Edries, “The two men were already being hauled into Lapland when he arrived at the site at 7:25 am. Men who live in Lapland indicated that although the lads claimed to be there, nothing could be done because the men had firearms when we went looking for them. The second time, we entered with the police to save the two men.”