The inquiry into the Usindiso building fire has been postponed.

• The inquiry into the Marshalltown fire was postponed.
• The two-part probe was meant to begin on Sunday.
• The reason for the delay was not announced.

The commission of inquiry into the Marshalltown fire, which was set to begin on Sunday, was postponed.

The two-part probe, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe, is expected to last six months.

The investigation was meant to commence on Sunday and end on 30 November, with the first report to be submitted on or before 30 December.

The first part of the inquiry will investigate how the fire started and the prevalence of hijacked buildings in the city.

The second part of the inquiry will focus on recommendations based on the findings of the first investigation.

It will also examine who is liable for the fire and the 77 deaths.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi's spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla, said the province could not comment because the investigation was being done by an independent commission.

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As such, he could not say why the commission was postponed and when the new commencement date would be.

He said the commission had yet to appoint a spokesperson to liaise with the media but that a press briefing would be held to discuss these issues.

The fire started at the Usindiso building after 01:00 on 31 August.

The building is owned by the City but was hijacked after the women's shelter was closed sometime after 2014.

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