Sithembiso Mdlalose was formally unveiled at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court, where he appeared for his role in the Marshalltown fire that killed 76 lives.
Sithembiso Mdlalose: Old interview of Marshalltown fire suspect resurfaces
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Mdlalose was taken into custody after he openly admitted to causing the devastating fire during the Usidindiso Inquiry on Tuesday, 23 January 2024.
Facing 76 counts of murder and 120 attempted murder charges, Mdlalose made his first appearance at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where the matter was postponed to Thursday, 1 February 2024.
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Chillingly, Mdlalose was one of the many survivors who were interviewed by the media after the tragedy.
In this video, which you can watch below, Mdlalose feigns remorse to a Newzroom Afrika reporter, commending the City of Johannesburg for its response in dealing with the devastation that rippled throughout the country.
“We’ve lost our loved ones, we lost our friends. A lot of people have been lost. There are newborn babies. So, it’s been a traumatic experience, you know, just one hectic nightmare,” Mdlalose said at the time.
Of course, we now know from his confession, which, on Thursday, was deemed admissible in court, that Mdlalose was speaking of his own callous actions at the time.
During Tuesday’s in-camera session, Mdlalose revealed that the fire erupted after he set a body alight, which he had strangled on the night of the deadly blaze.
He stated that he went to purchase petrol, poured it over the body, and ignited the flame before fleeing the building. The man also admitted to being high on crystal meth, supplied by a drug lord known as the “big boss” in the Usindiso building.
The initial phase of the commission’s investigation has been extended to the end of March, with the report expected in April 2024. The second phase will conclude at the end of July 2024, with the final report scheduled for submission in August 2024.
