This episode contains descriptions of severe injuries.
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.
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.
Guest: Lynsey Chutel, a southern Africa correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
How Telegram Became the Underworld’s Favorite App
'Book Review': Robert Caro on 50 Years of 'The Power Broker'
'The Interview': Sally Rooney Thinks Career Growth Is Overrated
Six Weeks to Go
The Day Thousands of Pagers Exploded in Lebanon
Israel's Existential Threat From Within
A Second Assassination Plot and the New Era of Political Violence
Three Undecided Voters, Two Swing States, One Big Decision
The Sunday Read: ‘The For-Profit City That Might Come Crashing Down’
'The Interview': Demi Moore Is Done With the Male Gaze
The Story Behind ‘They’re Eating the Pets’
How the Election Is Sinking a $15 Billion Business Deal
Harris Baits Trump: Inside Their Fiery Debate
Judge Delays Trump Sentencing Until After Election
The Harris Honeymoon Is Over
'The Interview': Change Can Be Beautiful. Just Ask Will Ferrell and Harper Steele.
The First Post-Affirmative Action Class Enters College
Kamala Harris’s Record on Immigration
The Battle to Control the World’s Most Powerful Technology
The Push to Ban Phones in School
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Up First from NPR
Consider This from NPR
The World
The Ezra Klein Show
Today in Focus