Johannesburg fire: Man arrested on suspicion of murdering 76

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after 76 people died in a deadly fire in a building in South Africa last year.

The 29-year-old claimed responsibility for starting the blaze in Johannesburg during his testimony to an inquiry into its cause, police said.

The fire at the Usindiso building in Marshalltown on 31 August 2023 was one of the worst in South Africa’s history.

More than 200 people, including some of the poorest in South African society, were living in dangerous conditions in the illegally occupied block.

Emergency services were called after the fire ripped through it in the early hours of the morning.

Many people jumped out of windows as high as three floors up to escape the inferno, according to witnesses and health officials. Some said they had to throw their babies and children out, hoping they would be caught by those below.

About 80 people were injured, many suffering broken limbs and backs from jumping out of the windows. Twelve children were among the dead.

The disaster caused an outcry over housing in South Africa and the condition of such blocks, known as “hijacked buildings”.

The city hosts hundreds of the rundown structures, which are left abandoned by authorities and ahve been taken over by people without homes.

The suspect, who has not been named, is facing 76 counts of murder and 120 of attempted murder, plus a charge of arson, police said in a statement.

His confession was entirely unexpected, news agencies reported. He testified at the inquiry because he was a resident of the building.

The panel in charge of the inquiry ordered that he not be identified after his testimony, and a lawyer leading the questioning said it could not be used against him, because the inquiry is not a criminal proceeding.

South African media referred to him as “Mr X” when reporting on his claim that he believed he caused the fire. Police said the man would appear in court soon, but did not give a date.

President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the inquiry into the disaster, which started in October.

Johannesburg’s acting chief of emergency services testified last year that the building was a “ticking timebomb,” because it was crowded with people living in wooden structures, while fire hoses and fire extinguishers had all been removed.