Africa-Press – South-Africa. The commission of inquiry into the deadly fire that destroyed the Usindiso Building in Marshalltown will commence next month after the Gauteng government launched its gazetted terms of reference.
A deadly blaze ripped through a hijacked building in the Johannesburg inner city on 31 August, killing 77 people and leaving scores more injured.
The provincial government has established a commission of inquiry, which will be probing the cause of the fire.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced on Wednesday that the commission would begin its two-part probe on 1 October until April 2024.
It will conclude the first half of the investigation on 30 November and submit the first report on or before 30 December.
The commission will conduct the second investigation between 1 January and 31 March 2024 and hand over the second report on or before 30 April.
The first part of the investigation will probe the circumstances that led to the deadly fire and the prevalence of leasing hijacked buildings in the Joburg inner city.
The second part will focus on the recommendations, based on the commission’s findings, and who must be held liable for the fire and the deaths that emanated from it.
Lesufi appointed retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe as the chairperson of the commission of inquiry last month.
Advocate Thulani Makhubela and former Ekurhuleni councillor Vuyelwa Mathilda Mabena will work alongside Khampepe.
He said the commission would investigate independently of political interference and its work would be separate from investigations carried out by law enforcement entities, including SAPS.
In this regard, the terms of reference state:
The terms of reference further state that, while the core investigating team consists of three members, Khampepe may solicit assistance from additional members not part of the inquiry.
The commissioners or officers involved with the commission are also empowered to inspect any premises and seize documents that may help the commission’s work, provided they have a warrant.
Equally, the commission’s members are not allowed to share any evidence externally, without written consent from Khampepe.
The chairperson may permit the cross-examination of witnesses and their assistance by attorneys, if this advances the commission’s work.
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