Families remember loved ones lost in Usindiso fire

Two years of pain: Families remember loved ones lost in Usindiso fire

Mapaballo Borotho

The Usindiso Building fire in Johannesburg claimed over 70 lives two years ago.
Survivors and families will gather to remember the victims and demand justice.
Delays in the investigation and missing witnesses continue to hinder the case.

Sunday, 31 August 2025, marks exactly two years since the devastating Usindiso Building fire that claimed more than 70 lives and ravaged the inner city of Johannesburg.

The abandoned building, which is owned by the City of Johannesburg, was illegally occupied by mostly undocumented foreign nationals, who had erected their shacks in the 5-storey building.

Following the incident, a commission of inquiry led by former Justice Sisi Khampepe was established to investigate the cause of the deaths.

In the first part of her report, Khampepe found the City of Johannesburg liable, stating the tragedy could have been prevented or mitigated had the city complied with its legal obligations as the building’s owner.

Confessed arsonist Lawrence Mdlalose admitted to having started the fire while under the influence of drugs.

He has since been arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder. However, the case is faced with a major hurdle, as some of the key witnesses are untraceable.

Some witnesses had returned to their home countries, including Malawi and Mozambique, while local witnesses had changed addresses and contact numbers.

The survivors and families who are still in South Africa will gather on Sunday at the site of the building in Marshalltown in Johannesburg CBD.

The commemorative event is convened by the Usindiso Community Forum and the Marshalltown Fire Justice Campaign, in partnership with various civil organisations.

They are calling for the swift completion of investigations, saying: “Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied.”

The survivors, the families, and the organisations will discuss the way forward in the ongoing struggle for justice for the Usindiso disaster victims.