Usindiso building fire case: Accused's confession statement used as evidence

JOHANNESBURG - The Palm Ridge Magistrates Court has heard chilling testimonies regarding how S’thembiso Mdlalose allegedly started the devastating fire that killed 76 people at the Usindiso building.

Mdlalose’s confession statement was read out in court on Tuesday by State witness Pieter Du Plessis, the magistrate who took down his confession in January last year.

In his statement, Mdlalose described how he strangled a person with an electrical cord and then attempted to cover up the killing by setting the body on fire.

This is the same confession Mdlalose attempted to retract in court, claiming he was high on drugs when he admitted to starting the inferno.

In his confession, Mdlalose admits he was not sober on the morning of the deadly Usindiso building fire, stating he wasn’t in a clear state of mind when he started the blaze.

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He explained that he had forced someone who owed him money from drug dealings into a room on the ground floor of the five-story building, where he tortured the man to death.

To cover up the crime, Mdlalose says he set the victim’s body on fire, believing the flames would remain confined only to that room.

Magistrate Du Plessis read out the confession.

“The fire was then uncontrollable and I saw people, even from the third floor, who jumped in order to escape the fire. We stood outside for the entire night until the morning. I then saw there was about 20 bodies that were laid out.”

Mdlalose’s confession is now being used as evidence against him after the court ruled it admissible.