A 29-year-old man, who remains unnamed, was arrested on Tuesday following his jaw-dropping testimony during a public inquiry into the catastrophic building fire that occurred in Johannesburg last August, claiming the lives of 76 individuals.
The accused, identified in South African media as "Mr. X," disclosed that he initiated the deadly inferno to dispose of the body of a man he had allegedly strangled in the basement of the dilapidated structure. This grim revelation unfolded as he testified before the inquiry investigating the causes of the tragic nighttime fire that marked one of South Africa's deadliest incidents.
Man Arrested in Shocking Building Fire Confession
According to reports, Mr. X confessed to beating and strangling the victim before dousing the body in gasoline and igniting it with a match. He claimed that he received orders from a Tanzanian drug dealer residing in the building to carry out the heinous act.
Law enforcement swiftly apprehended the accused after his shocking testimony. The charges filed against him include 76 counts of murder, 120 counts of attempted murder, and arson, as stated by the police in an official statement. A court appearance in Johannesburg is anticipated, although no specific date has been provided.
It's worth noting that the ongoing inquiry, convened to examine the fire's causes and potential safety lapses contributing to the substantial loss of life, is not a criminal proceeding. Consequently, Mr. X's unexpected confession cannot be legally utilized against him, as clarified by a leading lawyer overseeing witness questioning.
To protect the identity of the accused, the inquiry panel ordered that Mr. X not be publicly identified. This precautionary measure follows his testimony, which shocked both the public and legal observers, underscoring the unprecedented nature of his admission.
The fire, which ravaged the five-story building in Johannesburg's Marshalltown district, garnered international attention, shedding light on the persisting issue of "hijacked buildings" in the city center. These structures, abandoned by authorities and occupied by squatters, highlight broader urban decay concerns in South Africa's largest city, according to 9 News.
Illegal Control, Criminal Allegations
The building, officially owned by the city of Johannesburg, had fallen under the control of illegal landlords who rented out space to numerous impoverished residents. Many occupants were suspected immigrants living in the country without legal authorization, further complicating the aftermath of the tragedy.
Mr. X portrayed the building as a hub of criminal activity, alleging that it was under the control of drug dealers. He additionally asserted the existence of more bodies in the building's basement, referring to it as a "slaughterhouse" even before the fire occurred.
The tragedy exposed the dire condition of the building, with emergency services officials revealing that numerous fire escapes were locked or chained shut on the night of the incident, exacerbating the severity of the disaster. Witnesses and health officials recounted instances of people jumping from windows, some as high as three floors, to evade the rapidly spreading flames.
The inquiry was started in October by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with the intention of determining the circumstances and causes of the terrible fire. Witnesses and emergency services officials have testified, adding to the continuing investigation into what really happened during this terrifying situation, St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
