Marshalltown fire: Criminals stole victims' belongings after fire started, inquiry told
The survivor who presented oral evidence at the commission of inquiry into the uSindiso building on Monday afternoon is the first resident to be called to the witnessed stand.
A room untouched by a fire that ripped through parts of an illegally occupied building in the Johannesburg CBD. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - A survivor of the Marshalltown fire has recalled how criminals dashed into the uSindiso building to steal the belongings of residents moments after the blaze flared.
The survivor, who presented oral evidence at the commission of inquiry into the uSindiso building on Monday afternoon, is the first resident to be called to the witnessed stand.
The media has, however, been barred from disclosing her identity by the inquiry's evidence leaders to protect her identity.
READ: uSindiso building was infiltrated by gangsters who controlled everything, inquiry told
This all relates to the massive fire that tore through the five-storey hijacked building in the CBD five months ago, killing more than 70 people.
The first witness to take the stand on Monday painted a vivid picture of what may have happened after the uSindiso building caught fire, as she was lucky to escape before the blaze spread.
She said there were people who rushed into the building while some were desperately trying to escape, attempting to steal and grab items belonging to residents.
But she added that this was not surprising, as she claimed that armed men tortured people regularly in the five-storey hijacked property.
She also said that gunshots were frequent and on one occasion, police raided the building and found dozens of cartridges and firearms.
However, the witness added that she had no choice but to contend with the unlawful activities that took place in the block of flats.