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Usindiso fire murder trial resumes in Johannesburg High Court

Published

The state plans to call four witnesses, three doctors and a police officer, to clear up discrepancies in the pathology report. Sthembiso Mdlalose faces 76 counts of murder over the August 2023 fire.

Mdlalose is accused of being involved in starting the fire at the Usindiso building. The fire killed 76 people. The state alleges that he played a part in starting it.

The state says the pathology report contains discrepancies. Bodies were first reported to have been burned to death, but the state says the victims died of smoke inhalation. The four witnesses will address this.

Key facts

Who
Sthembiso Mdlalose (accused, facing 76 counts of murder)
What
Sthembiso Mdlalose faces 76 counts of murder over the alleged starting of the August 2023 Usindiso building fire that killed 76 people. The state intends to call four witnesses, three doctors and a police officer, to clarify discrepancies in the pathology report.
When
21 October 2026
Where
Johannesburg
Status
Reported

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