The residents of Usindiso Building tried to escape from the deadly August fire by jumping out of windows and falling on mattresses thrown outside to cushion themselves from getting injured.
This is what came out on Friday during the second day of the judicial commission of inquiry into circumstances surrounding the deaths of 77 people at the Usindiso Building in Marshalltown, Johannesburg.
The inquiry, which is chaired by retired Constitutional Court judge Sisi Khampepe, is investigating the causes of the fire on August 31.
Khampepe is assisted by advocate Thulani Makhubela and Vuyelwa Mathida Mabena.
Advocate Ishmael Semenya (SC) is the evidence leader of the inquiry.
Warrant Officer Bonginkosi Goodman Mngadi from the Johannesburg Central police station testified that residents of the building used blankets to escape the fire through the windows.
Mngadi is a crime scene investigator who was responsible for taking pictures of the fire scene, collecting exhibits and documenting the scene.
During his testimony, Semenya took Mngadi through the pictures of the fire scene and asked him to explain what he saw in the pictures that he took.
Escaping the fire through windows
“To my observation, some of the residents or victims who were staying inside the building used sheet-looking straps to escape through the window.
“Because of the height of the building, other occupants threw mattresses on the ground so that when they jump out of the building, they could cushion themselves from getting injured. Others died despite landing on mattresses,” said Mngadi.
Earlier, City of Johannesburg emergency management services divisional chief David Ntemi Thabe said two people died after jumping out of the Usindiso Building in order to avoid a raging fire.
During his testimony, Thabe said: “At approximately 1.21am, the ECC [emergency command centre] received a call from a Mr Siyabonga who reported the incident, and two dead bodies outside the building because of jumping from the building to avoid the fire.”
Seventy-seven people including 12 children were killed and 88 were injured in one of the deadliest fires in South African history.
Gauteng health department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said only 37 of the 77 bodies had been identified and released to their families for burial a month after they died.
