In South Africa, a 29-year-old man was apprehended on Tuesday and is set to face 76 counts of murder following his admission during a public inquiry that he intentionally started a fatal building fire in Johannesburg last year.

The shocking revelation unfolded as the man explained that he ignited the fire while attempting to dispose of the body of an individual he had strangled on the instructions of a drug dealer in the apartment complex. The inquiry is investigating the fire’s cause and safety lapses contributing to the significant loss of lives. Despite the gravity of the confession, the legal proceedings are not criminal, and the man, a building resident, also faces 120 counts of attempted murder and an arson charge.

The tragic incident spotlighted the issue of hijacked buildings in Johannesburg, underscoring the challenges faced by the city in addressing urban decay. The building, occupied by numerous individuals seeking shelter, claimed 76 lives, including children, and triggered widespread outrage over the authorities’ failure to prevent illegal takeovers of such structures. President Cyril Ramaphosa initiated the inquiry in response to the disaster, commencing with testimonies from emergency responders who tackled the fire in August of the previous year.