<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">South African police said today that they had arrested a man accused of starting a fire that killed more than 70 in Johannesburg last year.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The 29-year-old was detained yesterday after confessing his involvement before an enquiry established to investigate the tragedy.</div><div><br></div><div>“A suspect was arrested in connection to the Marshalltown fire,” police spokesman Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said.</div><div><br></div><div>Seventy-seven people were killed and scores injured as a blaze ripped through a five-storey building taken over for illegal housing in central Johannesburg last August.</div><div><br></div><div>It was one of the deadliest building fires worldwide in recent years.</div><div><br></div><div>The suspect is expected to appear in court “soon” on charges of arson, 76 counts of murder and 120 counts of attempted murder, police said.</div><div><br></div><div>Illegal occupation of disused buildings in the city centre is widespread, with many said to be under the control of criminal syndicates who collect rent from occupants. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>