A person has been arrested after allegedly confessing that he began a hearth in South Africa that killed 76 folks - whereas making an attempt to eliminate a physique.

The 29-year-old made the shock confession throughout a public inquiry into the reason for the hearth at a five-storey constructing in Johannesburg in August final 12 months.

The man reportedly stated he had strangled somebody to dying within the basement of the block of flats, earlier than setting hearth to his physique, in accordance with South African media reviews of the testimony.

He stated that he was a drug consumer and was informed to kill the person by a drug vendor who lived within the constructing.

Police later stated the person - who was not named - has been arrested in reference to the hearth and is dealing with 76 counts of homicide, 120 counts of tried homicide and arson.

The alleged confession got here as a whole shock, because the inquiry was not a legal continuing, however aimed to search out what security failures may need resulted within the deaths of so many.

The hearth ripped by the dilapidated constructing, killing 76 folks, together with at the very least 12 kids. More than 80 folks have been injured within the blaze.

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Content Source: information.sky.com