A man is charged with 76 counts of murder in a deadly South African building fire last year
A man has been charged with 76 counts of murder and 86 counts of attempted murder for allegedly causing a fire at an apartment building in South Africa last year that was one of the country’s worst disasters
By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME
Published - Jan 25, 2024, 08:04 AM ET
Last Updated - Jan 25, 2024, 08:04 AM EST
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A man was charged with 76 counts of murder and 86 counts of attempted murder on Thursday for allegedly causing a deadly fire at an apartment building in South Africa last year that was one of the country's worst disasters.
Prosecutors said he made a written confession in which he admitted starting the nighttime fire that ripped through the five-story building in Johannesburg in August, killing 76 people and leaving dozens injured.
The suspect, Sithembiso Lawrence Mdlalose, was also charged with arson and was ordered to be kept in police custody until a hearing next month when his lawyer is expected to say if he will apply for bail.
He faces a possible sentence of life in prison. South Africa has no death penalty.
