State to call second witness as Usindiso Building fire trial resumes – SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa’s news leader.

The High Court in Johannesburg, sitting in Palm Ridge, is expected to call a second witness in the re-opened Usindiso building fire case.

76 people, mostly Malawian nationals, were killed in the fire, which happened in August 2023.

Last week, the court heard testimony that makeshift structures had been constructed from highly flammable materials in the building.

A suspect, Sithembiso Mdlalose, is facing 76 counts of murder for his role in igniting the fire.

During the cross-examination of witness Leonard Cindi, City of Johannesburg Emergency Services Incident Commander Chicco Nyathi testified that most of the charred bodies were found on the ground floor of the building, which was likely being used as a spaza shop.