Usindiso inquiry report to be released on Sunday
Justice Sisi Khampepe, the chairperson of the inquiry into the Usindiso building fire, has handed over part one of the commission's report to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
The commission was established to look into circumstances leading to the death of at least 77 people at the hijacked building in the Joburg CBD.
In the early hours of 31 August last year, a fire ripped through the overcrowded five-storey building.
The commission received evidence from various witnesses on the cause of the fire and who should be held accountable for the loss of life and injuries suffered by the residents of the building.
Lesufi will make the report public on Sunday.
“I said, you can’t have 77 people dying, and you just say it’s business as usual,” Lesufi told Justice Khampepe.
“My conscience could not allow me, and that’s the reason why I felt this task needed to be executed. You have demonstrated that even when there are challenges, the work must continue, and that alone pleases me. We will officially release this, and I want you to be the one who releases it.”
The Gauteng Department of Health reported that 62 of the victims were burnt beyond recognition, prompting authorities to use DNA sampling to help identify the deceased.
Acting Chief of the Joburg Emergency Management Services, Rapulane Monageng, highlighted several serious fire hazards, including barricaded fire escapes, vandalised extinguishers, rusted paraffin stoves, and non-compliant partitioning of rooms - using highly flammable material such as wooden boards and plastic.
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