Germiston Home Affairs Building Engulfed in Flames, Streets Closed

Germiston, Johannesburg — Firefighters are battling a major blaze at the Home Affairs building in Germiston’s city centre after flames tore through the two-story structure early this morning.

The upper floor of the building is still “well alive” with flames, according to one firefighter on the scene, while crews continue efforts to gain access to the ground level to assess the full extent of the damage.

READ: Germiston Home Affairs Fire: Key Documents Safe, Mobile Services Deployed |

Emergency Response Underway

Multiple fire stations have dispatched vehicles and personnel to contain the blaze. As part of safety protocols, authorities have:

• Closed President Street and Jack Street to traffic.
• Evacuated nearby buildings as a precaution.
• Urged members of the public to avoid the area.

Emergency services are expected to remain on-site for several hours as efforts to extinguish the flames continue.

READ: Police Fire Rubber Bullets During Tense Germiston Evictions |

Cause of Fire Under Investigation

At this stage, the cause of the fire remains unknown. Officials confirmed that a full investigation will be launched once the blaze has been brought under control.

No casualties or injuries have yet been reported, but authorities have not ruled out structural damage to the building.

Community Impact

The Germiston Home Affairs branch is one of the busiest in the Ekurhuleni region, serving thousands of residents for critical services such as ID applications, passports, and birth registrations. The fire is expected to cause major disruptions for the public until further notice.

Authorities are likely to issue guidance on where residents can access alternative Home Affairs services in the coming days.