Johannesburg – Accused suspect, Sthembiso Lawrence Mdlalose, charged in connection with the Usindiso building fire, stormed out of the courtroom after becoming frustrated with the state prosecutor’s line of questioning.
Mdlalose went back to trial on Wednesday, 18 September, at the Gauteng High Court, in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
The accused faced multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, and arson, linked to the fire that claimed the lives of 77 people in August 2023.
According to the Citizen, Mdlalose maintained that his admission to starting the fire was made only out of fear of becoming homeless.
“You want me to continue and waste time on something that I just said was a lie.
“The truth is: I made this illusion so that I can get arrested because I wanted to run away and escape being on the street, being shelterless. I thought prison would give me a second chance.
“As I’ve seen people going to prison, come back, they’ve got education, they’ve got degrees. So that’s one thing that I had on my mind”, testified Mdlalose.
[WATCH] Sthembiso Mdlalose, the man who allegedly set fire to the Usindiso Building, stormed out of the courtroom during his cross-examination. The fire killed 76 people.
Mdlalose appeared frustrated when questioned about contradictory statements in his testimony. @JusstAlpha pic.twitter.com/8IffuAZOZz
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 17, 2025
The accused testified last week that he and his friends had been on the third floor of the building when they realised it was on fire.
However, State Prosecutor Thami Mpekana questioned the discrepancies in the accused’s testimony, which led to a tense exchange.
Mpekana: “I am putting it to you that on that day when the building got burned, you were there.”
Mdlalose: “You are telling me that?”
Mdlalose: “That is up to you to believe; me, I’m telling you I was not in that building when it happened.”
During cross-examination, he became frustrated over questions about contradictory statements and admitted to lying, calling the exchange a “debate.”
He then abruptly left the courtroom.
His lawyer, Leonard Cinti, when asked about his client, requested that the trial be adjourned.
However, the judge demanded his return upon discovering that he had already been taken back to his cell.
“Could you please get assistance and bring him back into court, immediately”, demanded the judge.
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Compiled by Anda Tolibadi
