The alleged arsonist is in charge of the Indiso building fires in the United States, Lawrance Sithembiso Mdlalose, who made his debut in the South African High Court in Johannesburg on Friday, February 14, 2025.
Mdlalose, 30, faces charges related to the deaths of 76 residents and the fatal injury of 12 people in the fire.
After the incident, an investigation committee was established, during which the defendant testified and admitted to the magistrate.
He was subsequently arrested on January 23, 2024 and charged with 76 counts of murder, one count of arson and 12 counts of attempted murder.
Police investigations were revealed by Colonel Andile Manganyi, the incident that led to the devastating fire in the building, killing 76 people and injuring 12 people.
The defendant, who allegedly, was a resident of the building, had a violent dispute with a person known as KB in the ground room on August 31, 2023.
He allegedly attacked KB in search of payment for drugs sold on his behalf. The attack continued until KB lost consciousness, prompting the defendant to panic and mistakenly believe that KB was dead. The defendant then left to buy gasoline.
After the return, he allegedly soaked KB’s body and lit it. The fire spread and the defendant stood outside pretending to be innocent and swallowed up the building.
Residents screamed for help, and some jumped out of the building. The consequences reveal burnt and severely injured bodies scattered around and around the building.
