JOHANNESBURG - Independent experts have raised serious concerns about the quality of safety inspections at old buildings following the fire that broke out at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital.

Some Johannesburg residents are forced to rely on a private firefighting organisation, Fire Ops SA to assist in emergencies because the city’s fire stations are under-equipped.

After several critiques by residents and a court of law, there has been little to no improvement in the City of Johannesburg’s firefighting capabilities in recent years, opening a gap in the market for private fire brigades.