Nearly five months after a major fire that left 76 dead, police in the South African metropolis of Johannesburg have arrested a suspect. Before a commission of inquiry to determine the cause of the fire, the 29-year-old admitted he was partly responsible for starting the blaze at the five-story building in Marshalltown’s central district, police spokesman Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said late in a statement declaration. on Tuesday.
According to reports in the South African media, the man provided further details about the cause of the fire in his witness statement. He admitted to killing a man in the basement of the building. He beat and strangled him. He then doused the car with gasoline and set it on fire with a match.
The suspect should appear in court “soon” on charges of arson, 76 murders and 120 attempted murders, Nevhuhulwi said. He did not provide further details.
The building, known as the ‘Usindiso’ house, was officially empty at the time of the fire in the early morning of August 31, 2023, but in fact hundreds of people were living there illegally. Twelve children also died in the flames. According to the station, the exact cause of the fire has not yet been clarified.
Johannesburg’s city center is considered dilapidated and dangerous. Businesses and businesses moved to surrounding neighborhoods many years ago due to high crime rates. This means that numerous buildings in the city center are empty, many of which are occupied by homeless people. Property owners there have long stopped maintaining their properties, whose market and rental prices have fallen. (saw/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
