Alleged Usindiso building fire arsonist storms out of trial without permission

JOHANNESBURG - The man accused of setting the Usindiso building in the Johannesburg CBD alight has stormed out of court during his cross-examination without the judge's permission.

Thirty-two-year-old Sthembiso Mdlalose appeared visibly frustrated as State prosecutor Thami Mpekana questioned him about lying under oath on Wednesday.

Mdlalose is on trial at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court for allegedly starting the fire that killed 76 people in August 2023.

He initially confessed to starting the blaze but now says his confession was false, claiming he lied to secure shelter in prison.

As the State prosecutor questioned Mdlalose about statements he made on Wednesday that contradict his testimony from last week, the alleged arsonist grew visibly emotional.

Last week, Mdlalose told the court that he was hanging out with his friends on the third floor when he noticed the building was on fire.

However, on Wednesday, Mdlalose claimed that he was neither inside the building nor in the vicinity of the hijacked property when the blaze broke out.

When pressed to clarify this contradiction, Mdlalose angrily stormed out of the courtroom.

"Do you want us to waste time on something I said was a lie? The truth is, I made this up so that I can be arrested and escape being on the streets and shelterless."

Following his emotional outburst, the court postponed the matter to 15 October.

ALSO READ:

• Alleged Usindiso building arsonist Mdlalose says he was waiting for 'right time' to retract confession

• Alleged Usindiso arsonist says he took the rap to secure shelter in prison

• Alleged Usindiso arsonist apologises, admits to lying about starting fire

• Alleged Usindiso building arsonist tells court the charges against him ruining his life

• Alleged Usindiso building arsonist says he's embarrassed for falsely claiming responsibility for fire

• Man accused of torching Usindiso building claims he doesn’t know how fire started

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