Mdlalose stands accused of deliberately setting the hijacked Usindiso building on fire in 2023, resulting in the deaths of 76 people. The postponement comes after one of the two witnesses who were expected to testify failed to show up in court.

The witness said the taxi he was travelling in had a mechanical issue. The court has heard from several other witnesses about the fire which consumed the building. One of the witnesses, Zanab Hassan, nearly lost her baby and her own life.

“ Both myself and my neighbour tried to open the emergency door but we struggled because we didn't have the keys and all of a sudden my neighbor disappeared and I remained with my child seeing that my neigbour was no longer in his room. I then decided to go back to my room, I didn't reach my room I went to another neighbour’s room I had mistaken my neighbour’s room to my room, I then found an open window and looked through the window and I shouted to the group of people that were outside as I wanted to throw my baby then the people came and I was able throw my child," Hassan said.

--SABC--