A Tragic Fire and Broken Promises in South Africa

<p><i>This episode contains descriptions of severe injuries. </i></p><p>Last week, a devastating fire swept through a derelict building in Johannesburg that housed desperate families who had no place else to go. The authorities had been repeatedly warned that it was a potential firetrap. Nothing was done, and at least 76 people died.</p><p>Lynsey Chutel, who covers southern Africa for The Times, explains how Johannesburg, once a symbol of the hope of post-apartheid South Africa, became an emblem of just how bad the country’s breakdown has become.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/lynsey-chutel">Lynsey Chutel</a>, a southern Africa correspondent for The New York Times.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>An extensive paper trail revealed that the<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/02/world/africa/south-africa-fire-cause.html"> authorities in Johannesburg were warned repeatedly about the dangers</a> in the building that burned down.</li><li>Johannesburg, with a severe shortage of affordable housing, has hundreds of illegally occupied derelict buildings that<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/31/world/africa/johannesburg-fire-derelict-building.html"> officials and housing advocates say have become firetraps.</a></li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p>