Lucas Thipe News Today

The court case against the suspect who allegedly started the fire is delayed with a warning to the defence over dragging its heels. The commission, meanwhile, wraps up the first part of its investigation into the Usindiso fire, which killed 76 people last year.

Their testimonies at the commission of inquiry into the deadly fire that killed 77 people in Johannesburgs CBD in August will follow the three firefighters who took the stand on Thursday on day one of the public proceedings.

Lucas Thipe is a platoon commander for the Joburg Emergency Services. He was the third witness giving evidence at the commission of inquiry into the Usindiso building fire on Thursday.

Crime scene investigator, warrant officer Goodman Mnguni is the seventh witness to take the stand as proceedings in the Usindiso Inquiry continue.

The City of Johannesburg's immediate response to the fire that gutted the hijacked Usindiso building may soon come under scrutiny as lawyers representing some of the victims raised the issue of cross-examining the witnesses testifying before the commission of inquiry

The inquiry into the deadly Usindiso building fire commenced with the Acting City of Joburg EMS Chief Rapulane Monageng as its first witness on Thursday.