Usindiso building fire trial: Magistrate says it's common for accused to seek to reverse confessions

JOHANNESBURG - The Palm Ridge Magistrates Court continues to hear testimony from State witnesses in the case against the man accused of setting the Usindiso building alight.

The court is currently conducting a trial-within-a-trial as self-confessed arsonist Sthembiso Mdlalose is challenging the validity of his confession.

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Mdlalose claims he wasn’t sober and was under duress when he admitted to setting the hijacked building on fire, which killed 76 people.

Senior Magistrate Pieter du Plessis, who recorded Mdlalose’s confession in January 2024, is testifying on Wednesday.

He said it’s common for accused persons to attempt to reverse their own confession.

"I must indicate that according to my experience, 90%-95% of confession end up here because once most know what they are facing and that they can have legal reparation, they then elect that."