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A firefighter works at the scene of a deadly fire which occurred in the early hours of the morning in Johannesburg, South Africa, August 31, 2023.
The trial of a man accused of arson in the fire at the Usindiso building in the Johannesburg CBD is expected to resume this morning in the High Court sitting in Palm Ridge in Ekurhuleni.
Sithembiso Mdlalose faces 76 counts of murder.
During the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry into the fire in 2023, he admitted to starting the blaze that killed mostly foreign nationals.
However, he changed his tune in the trial.
VIDEO | Mdlalose contests the validity of his confession:
Yesterday, Mdlalose’s father, Bheki Khumalo, expressed disappointment in his son’s confession to a magistrate.
Mdlalose allegedly confessed to committing arson to a magistrate.
However, during the court trial, he recanted his statement, saying that he was under the influence of drugs at the time of his confession.
His confession was declared admissible and it was read into the record.
VIDEO | Arsonist’s confession ruled admissible:
