Joburg CBD fire: Victim’s family awaits DNA results for burial
The family of one of the victims of the latest Johannesburg building fire said they can't bury their loved one until DNA testing has been concluded.
However, they are not sure when that will be.
Thirty-five-year-old Sizwe Cele is one of two people killed when a fire ripped through the hijacked Express Building on Nugget Street on Sunday.
Cele and his partner had apparently been sleeping in the room adjacent to where witnesses claim Bonisiwe Gumede allegedly started the fire.
It’s alleged Gumede poured paraffin at the door of her boyfriend’s room following a heated argument between the two.
READ: Case against woman accused of starting deadly CBD fire postponed
On Monday, Cele's uncle Msongelo Mnisi said both victims were burned beyond recognition.
"We could not identify him. We are going to need DNA because they are burnt beyond recognition. It will have to go the DNA way.”
Speaking after Gumede’s brief appearance before the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, Mnisi said they were waiting to hear from the case investigator when they would get the DNA test results.
“The detective took the samples of the sibling of the deceased, Musa Cele, so then we were told that there would be someone coming from Pretoria to come and do the tests. Apparently, we will have to wait until next week.”
Mnisi was joined in court by his wife and Cele’s two visibly distraught siblings.
He pointed to the deceased’s brother, who was the one who called him on Sunday to notify him of the tragedy.
Mnisi said his nephew had no children and had come to Johannesburg from KwaZulu-Natal to try his hand in the taxi industry.
“His father was a taxi man before, so he was just marshalling there.”
Mnisi said seeing the woman accused of starting the fire that claimed his nephew’s life was saddening.
Gumede will return to court on 30 January.
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