Accused in Deadly Joburg Fire Confesses to Killings in ‘Slaghuis’ Room

The man accused of starting the fire that killed 77 people at Johannesburg’s Usindiso building has confessed the hijacked structure housed a torture chamber known as the “slaghuis” — Afrikaans for “slaughterhouse.”

Sithembiso Mdlalose, 31, is currently on trial over the August 2023 blaze that gutted the Marshalltown building. In his confession, read out in court this week, he detailed the violence inside the building and how a drug dispute led to the fatal fire.

A building ruled by fear

Mdlalose told police the “slaghuis” was used to punish suspected thieves and unruly tenants. Victims were often tortured — and sometimes killed. He described how he and a Tanzanian drug dealer took a man referred to as “KM” to the ground-floor torture room after KM allegedly failed to return drug money.

“I saw what happened to many people who didn’t return money or explain what happened — they got tortured,” Mdlalose said in the confession, which was recorded by magistrate Pieter du Plessis in January 2024.

Mdlalose said he assaulted KM in a rage, then strangled him with a kettle cord. He claimed he hadn’t intended to kill him but panicked when KM stopped breathing.

Petrol, a match, and disaster

In a further attempt to cover up the assault, Mdlalose said he returned with petrol and doused the body before setting it alight.

“I stood near the doorway, struck a match and threw it. I had thought the fire would not spread very far,” he told police.

The fire tore through the building, killing 77 people and leaving dozens injured or displaced.

Court rules confession admissible

Mdlalose initially tried to retract his confession, claiming he was not sober when he gave it. However, Judge Cassim Moosa ruled it admissible, saying the State had proven it was made freely and voluntarily.

“The court has duly considered the burden of proof… it is for the state to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the statement made by the accused was made freely and voluntarily without any undue influence,” said Moosa.

The trial continues.

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Sourced:Sowetan Live

Picture: Ntwaagae Seleka/News24