Johannesburg – The 29-year-old man who confessed to starting the building fire that killed 76 people has been arrested and is now expected to appear in court to face arson, 76 counts of murder, and 120 counts of attempted murder.
In a shocking twist of events on Tuesday, a man whose identity will be revealed when he appears in court claimed that since the tragedy he has been haunted by his actions.
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He told the inquiry that he unintentionally caused the fire and that he had only intended to burn the body of a person he had strangled.
The self-confessed drug user said he had poured the body with fuel before he set it alight, but the fire got out of hand and spread to other parts of the dilapidated Usindiso Building.
Confirming the arrest, police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi on Tuesday said: “A suspect was arrested in connection to the Marshalltown fire, which claimed the lives of 76 people in August 2023 at Johannesburg Central”.
Colonel Nevhuhulwi added: “The 29-year-old man was arrested after he confessed at the commission of inquiry for being involved in starting the tragic fire.
“He is expected to appear before Johannesburg court soon on charges of arson, 76 counts of murder, and 120 counts of attempted murder.”
When the building in Marshalltown, Johannesburg CBD, caught alight it was occupied by hundreds of people – some of them undocumented foreign nationals.
The inquiry had previously been bogged down by allegations of xenophobia that had been levelled against one of the commissioners who has since been removed.
The inquiry presided over by retired Justice Sisi Khampepe continues.
