Despite the devastating blaze that tore through the Germiston Home Affairs office, the Department of Home Affairs has moved to reassure the public that smart ID cards and passport systems remain safe and secure.
The fire erupted during violent protests by residents of Pharoe Park on Tuesday, who were demonstrating against a court-ordered eviction drive by the City of Ekurhuleni targeting tenants in government-owned flats who had allegedly defaulted on rent and electricity payments.
Amid escalating tensions, a petrol bomb was reportedly thrown into the double-storey Home Affairs building, igniting a fire that engulfed the structure. The upper floor’s roof later collapsed, with flames and smoke billowing over Germiston’s CBD.
In a swift response, the Department confirmed that critical systems, records, and data were not lost in the inferno — offering relief to concerned citizens who feared their documentation might be destroyed. Backup systems and data redundancies reportedly protected sensitive information, including smart ID and passport applications.
Police have since arrested two individuals who now face charges of public violence, damage to property, and arson. Investigations are ongoing, and further arrests have not been ruled out.
As the city tallies the cost of the destruction, the incident highlights the volatile intersection of housing instability, service delivery failures, and civil unrest — and raises urgent questions about how state infrastructure can be protected in the face of growing community frustrations.
For now, Home Affairs is working to restore services for affected residents and relocate operations — while condemning the attack as a reckless assault on essential public services.
