Marshalltown fire: Alleged arsonist describes Usindiso building as a 'hellhole'

JOHANNESBURG - A witness in the commission of inquiry into the Marshalltown fire who claims to have started the blaze described the Usindiso building as a hellhole.

The alleged arsonist claimed that police ignored the criminal activity that took place in the hijacked block of flats.

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The commission ruled that evidence presented by witnesses in the inquiry was inadmissible and couldn’t be used against them.

The witness told the commission that he moved into the Usindiso building nearly two years ago to seek shelter following years of homelessness.

He said several people were murdered by alleged drug dealers in past years, and claimed little was done by law enforcement agencies.

On Monday, another witness told the panel of commissioners that people would get tied to a chair and tortured by ring leaders in the building, a claim supported by the alleged arsonist.

'TANZANIAN KINGPIN BEHIND ILLEGAL ACTIVITY AT USINDISO'

The man who claims to be behind the fatal Marshalltown fire has told the commission that he reported to a Tanzanian man who he says was the kingpin behind most illegal activities in the Usindiso building.

He says the man turned the building's basement into what he called a “slaghuis” – or slaughterhouse - where people were allegedly brutally tortured.

But that's not all, he says the Tanzanian national was willing to do anything to make money - even selling a 15-year-old girl for drugs in the Usindiso building.

He added that he realised the severity of his actions when he saw people jumping out of the burning building desperately trying to escape the fire.