Man Arrested for Johannesburg's Usindiso Building Fire

Suspect confesses to starting the fire that killed 76 people while trying to hide a murder.

A 29-year-old man has been arrested on charges of arson, 76 counts of murder, and 120 counts of attempted murder after confessing to starting a fire in the Usindiso building in Johannesburg, South Africa, last August.
The man confessed during a public inquiry into the fire that he had strangled a man in the building's basement and set his body on fire, which led to the larger blaze.
The fire, one of the deadliest in South Africa's history, resulted in the deaths of 76 people, including at least 12 children, and left over 500 people homeless.
Survivors of the fire, who were some of the poorest people in South African society, are currently living in unsafe metal shacks provided by authorities, with no water or power, and inadequate sanitation facilities.
The fire has highlighted the profound housing crisis in Johannesburg, with an estimated 15,000 people homeless and 188 'bad buildings' under investigation.