Alleged Usindiso arsonist says he is haunted by victims of the deadly blaze

JOHANNESBURG - Alleged Usindiso building arsonist, S’thembiso Mdlalose, has described his trauma, saying he is repeatedly haunted by mental images of the victims who died in the blaze.

State witness Pieter du Plessis, who is the magistrate who took Mdlalose’s confession, read the confession statement to the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

This is the same confession statement Mdlalose attempted to retract, claiming he was coerced into taking the blame for the fire that killed 76 people. 

The 31-year-old is standing trial, facing charges of murder, attempted murder and arson.

On Monday, the court rejected Mdlalose’s bid to withdraw his confession, alleging he was under the influence at the time he admitted to starting the fire.

In the confession, Mdlalose expressed that his guilt, after witnessing the impact the fire had on hundreds of families, drove him to come clean.

“I tried to convince myself to live with this as I had no blood relatives or anyone who stayed in the building. However, my conscious doesn’t allow me to do so owing to the fact that I saw how the relatives of the occupants had their lives changed since the incident,” said du Plessis as he read the statement. 

Mdlalose also wrote in his statement that he had been having sleepless nights.

“It also affected me of late. I have trouble sleeping and will regularly see burnt bodies. I wish to apologise to all the people I hurt and were affected by my actions.”

The trial continues, with more witnesses expected to take the stand on Tuesday.

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