Mdlalose allegedly confessed to the act of arson to a magistrate, but retracted his confession during the High Court trial, saying he was under the influence of drugs. On Monday, the court declared his confession admissible and on Tuesday it was read into the record. Mdlalose's father, Bheki Khumalo, says the trial is painful to witness.
Mdlalose faces 76 counts of murder for the people who died in the August 2023 fire at the Usindiso building in the South African city of Johannesburg. The court earlier heard that Mdlalose was not coerced into making a confession. Senior Magistrate, Pieter du Plessis, who recorded the confession statement in January 2024, read the full statement into the record on Tuesday.
“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 did not allow that. Owing to the fact that I saw how the relatives of the occupants had their lives changed since the incident. It also affected me of late. I have trouble sleeping and will regularly see burned bodies in my dreams," du Plessis said.
The court also heard that Mdlalose was very remorseful while giving the confession, and that he asked for forgiveness from the families of those who died as the incident has changed their lives forever.
“I saw how the relatives of the occupants had their lives changed since the incident. One of them is Faith Ncube, who I befriended when we were moved to the shelters. She lost her brother and her brother's girlfriend. Her life had changed ever since and she will never be the same again. I wish to apologize to all the people I hurt and were affected by my actions. I know it will not bring the deceased back, but it will bring some solace, to apologise and find peace in my heart and lift the burden, as it weighs heavy on me," the statement said.
Mdlalose's father, Bheki Khumalo says the alleged confession by his son has had a negative impact on the family.
“It's people's lives we are talking about. It has been painful even before there was someone who came out and claimed responsibility. It’s worse now that he has confessed. I have been coming here in court but what I’m hearing today, it's the first time I hear it. When I asked, he has always denied, but magistrate Duplesis has given a different version," Khumalo said.
--SABC--
