In a startling twist during the commission of inquiry into the fatal Usindiso building fire in Johannesburg on August 31, 2023, a witness made a shocking admission that he initiated the deadly blaze. The witness, whose identity remains protected, confessed in camera that the fire was a cover-up for a murder he committed on the ground floor of the building at 80 Albert Street, Marshalltown. The commission has ordered strict confidentiality regarding the witness’s identity.
The testimony revealed that on the fateful day, the witness, under the influence of crystal meth obtained from a “big boss” drug lord in the Usindiso building, assaulted, strangled, and set ablaze a man brought to the building. The witness, fueled by drug-induced paranoia, purchased petrol, doused the victim’s body, and ignited it with a matchstick before fleeing the scene.
Expressing remorse, the witness disclosed being haunted by guilt and praying for divine punishment due to the devastating consequences that claimed 77 lives. However, the shocking revelation led to the witness’s arrest.
The commission, led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe, reconvened on January 17 to investigate the tragic incident. Chief Fire Officer Wynand Engelbrecht highlighted the city’s inadequate firefighting capabilities, emphasizing the dire need for better equipment to safeguard residents and firefighters.
Despite the commission’s evidence leader, Ishmael Semenya SC, stating that witness statements wouldn’t be used against them, a 29-year-old suspect has been arrested. The individual faces charges of arson, 76 counts of murder, and 120 counts of attempted murder. The arrest follows the witness’s confession during the inquiry.
Human rights activist Andy Chinnah described the witness’s account as “harrowing,” detailing the witness’s involvement in a drug-infested environment within the building. Chinnah expressed concerns about unaccounted-for victims and the lack of improvement in living conditions for survivors, urging authorities to address these ongoing challenges. The inquiry is set to conduct a building inspection on Thursday following a temporary hiatus.