The lawyer representing the alleged arsonist responsible for the devastating Usindiso building fire in the Johannesburg CBD has stated that he is currently examining the confessions made by his client.
Sithembiso Mdlalose, during his testimony before the Commission of Inquiry into the fire and the National Prosecuting Authority, admitted to setting the building ablaze in August 2023.
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Mdlalose claimed that his intention was to burn the body of a person he had murdered, but the fire quickly spiralled out of control, resulting in the tragic deaths of over 70 individuals.
On Thursday, Mdlalose appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate Court to face charges of 76 counts of premeditated murder, 86 counts of attempted murder, and one count of arson.
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However, his legal representative, Dumisani Mabunda, expressed concerns about his client’s safety, emphasising the potential threats to Mdlalose’s life. Mabunda explained, “A lot of people died here, and under normal circumstances, family members are aggrieved, and obviously, there are people that are not happy.
“As [he] mentions, now, there is a drug lord, and all of that, so, therefore, his safety is very important – it’s at risk, basically.”
