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[File photo] Firefighters work at the scene of a deadly blaze at Usindiso building.
The alleged arsonist of the Usindiso building fire, Sithembiso Mdlalose, had earlier confessed to the tragic incident before a court of law. This was heard on Wednesday in the High Court at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng’s Eastrand.
Mdlalose has been charged with the deaths of 76 people following the incident in August 2023. He has pleaded not guilty.
He also faces attempted murder and arson charges.
Magistrate Pieter du Plessis has told the High Court that Mdlalose made the confession in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court.
“The question was, have you previously made a statement to anyone regarding this incident. The answer by the despondent was yes. I was a witness at a commission of enquiry at the Khampepe Commission. I told the advocate, the commission and the police what had happened. And wish to repeat it to find peace with myself.”
