The Commission of Inquiry into the fatal Usindiso building fire in Johannesburg will this morning re-interview witnesses who have already testified before it.
The Commission has been instituted to look into the devastating building fire that claimed the lives of 77 people in Johannesburg last year.
The state-owned Usindiso building is believed to have been hijacked by rent lords.
Yesterday, the inquiry’s evidence leader, Advocate Ishmael Semenya, went through witness statements.
“The next name and its exhibit number would be NRF80 with the name Sharifu Muhame, Musa Omari Saeed is another witness statement – to be followed by of that of Abubakari Rajabu with the exhibit number NRF82.”
The video below provides an update on yesterday’s proceedings:
Building not suitable for human habitation
During proceedings last month, the commission heard that the building was not suitable for human habitation.
City of Johannesburg Acting Executive Director for Planning and Development, Eric Raboshaga, stated the building is classified as an industrial building according to the Buildings Act.
The inquiry was appointed to probe the possible causes of the deadly fire and to investigate the prevalence of hijacked buildings in the CBD.
The building caught fire at around 1am on the 16th of August last year, with the fire having allegedly started on the bottom floor.
Meanwhile, last month, Joburg EMS rejected testimony of witnesses who claim the first two fire engines on the scene had little to no water.
More details in the report below:
