Sthembiso Mdlalose now pleads not guilty to 90 charges after claiming he was intoxicated during confession
Palm Ridge, Johannesburg — April 22, 2025
In a dramatic reversal that has reignited public outrage, Sthembiso Mdlalose, the man accused of starting the devastating Usindiso Building fire that killed 76 people in Johannesburg’s CBD on 31 August 2023, has withdrawn his earlier confessions, claiming he was intoxicated and mentally unstable at the time.
Mdlalose, who previously admitted before the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry and a magistrate that he started the fire to cover up a murder while under the influence of crystal meth, now insists that both confessions were false—made while he was high, addicted, and under pressure from a mysterious drug kingpin.
Represented by Advocate Leonard Cindi, Mdlalose’s defense argues that his confessions are inadmissible under the Criminal Procedure Act, which requires that any admission of guilt be made freely and voluntarily, by someone of sound mind.
“Mdlalose was not of stable mind. He was severely impaired by drug addiction and not in a position to fully understand or control his actions,” said Cindi in court.
Today, in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court, Mdlalose pleaded not guilty to 90 charges, including 76 counts of murder, arson, and attempted murder. The court now faces the complex task of evaluating whether his earlier confessions can legally be considered as evidence.
The Usindiso tragedy, one of South Africa’s deadliest residential fires, left a gaping wound in the heart of Johannesburg, sparking nationwide debates about illegal occupations, government negligence, and the vulnerability of the urban poor.
This latest development adds yet another layer of complexity to a case already mired in trauma, controversy, and unanswered questions. As the legal battle unfolds, the victims’ families—and a watching nation—continue to demand truth, justice, and accountability.
