Parliament building fire causes concern
FORMER and current members of Parliament said they were left shocked and devastated after another fire gutted parts of the Parliament precinct in Cape Town.
The first blaze gutted the buildings on Sunday morning. It reignited in one of the buildings on Monday afternoon.
This is the second fire to be reported at the precinct in less than a year.
In March last year, it was reported that an electrical fault resulted in a fire at the Old Assembly building where several upper floor offices and committee rooms were damaged.
The precinct consists of three main sections, which include the original building completed in 1884, and additional buildings constructed in the 1920s and 1980s.
On Sunday, more than 30 firefighters worked to douse the fire that broke out in both the old and new wings of the buildings of Parliament, which house the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and the National Assembly.
The NCOP is situated in the old wing and the National Assembly in the new wing.
Omie Singh, who served as an ANC member of Parliament from 1999 until 2019, said he was concerned after learning of the fire.
Singh served as the chairperson of the portfolio committee on ethics from 2014 until 2019. He also served as chairperson in other portfolios.
“My initial reaction was that of concern, that the highest office in our land was now burning. At that point, I did not know to what extent this fire was going to gut Parliament. There was concern that documentation that was archived in that area of Parliament would be all destroyed. This was a frightening thought.”
Singh said having served two decades in Parliament, many memories were made over the years.
“But the one that sticks out for me is when I was asked to chair the portfolio committee on ethics. For me, that was very important, as one is regarded very highly in Parliament to be given that position. That was definitely a highlight for me, and all that followed while in the position,” he said.
Singh said the national key point should be properly guarded.
“It should not be left unprotected so that an alleged petty thief can do so much damage. Security standards have been falling and need immediate attention. National government should have the highest level of security that we see in other countries,” he said.
Sandy Kalyan, who served as a DA member of the Parliament between 1999 and 2019, said: “My first reaction was one of shock and now extreme sadness.
Kalyan served as the DA shadow minister for International Relations and Co-operation from 2014 until 2019. She also served in other designations over the years.
“The institution was my home, my place of work for 20 years. I explored every nook and cranny of the precinct. I would often be stuck in the library, it is the most beautiful library, and fortunately, they managed to save it.
“However, I also feel an extreme amount of sadness as I wonder how they will restore this beautiful monument, but I do hope they can restore it to its former glory,” she said.
Kalyan said her fondest memory was debating in the national assembly.
“It was the lively and robust debates that stuck out for me, especially when there was a piece of legislature I was actively involved in,” she said.
Narend Singh, the IFP’s Chief Whip in Parliament since 2007, said: “I was terribly sad and had one hope – that the fire would be contained quite swiftly”.
Singh served as a member of Parliament from 1989 until 1994. He then served as a member of the Senate from 1994 to 1996.
From 1997 until 2006, he served as a member of the executive council in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government before returning to Parliament.
“After seeing the extensive damage to historic parts of the precinct, that makes one feel that there is very little hope in restoring it to its former glory unless hundreds of millions of rand will be spent to do that, but we can only hope for that now.”
Singh said that within the walls of the precinct, many memories were made.
“For me, it was during my time as a senator and being in what was the senate building, which is now the NCOP building. I recall that feeling of sitting in the building, which was not as modernised as it was now, and it gave one that kind of ‘status’,” he said.
Haniff Hoosen, a DA member of the Parliament since 2007, said: “When I heard that a fire had broken out in the Parliament precinct, I was hoping they would contain it, as they did with the fire last year, which was easily contained.
“However, as the pictures of the fire began emerging, I was shocked and devastated. How would one ever be able to repair the building to what we know it as, with its original design or seating?
“All we have now are the many memories that we have made within those walls, from the feisty debates to the corridor conversations, engaging with friends as well as colleagues of opposition parties and parliamentary staff,” he said.
Brandon Pillay, an ANC member of the Parliament since 2021, said: “At first, it was a shock and disbelief. I hoped that it would have been something very minor with little or no damage, but by the afternoon, it got me depressed just looking at the aftermath.
“It's quite emotional for me as this is my place of work. I have the fondest of memories over the past year. Stepping into the chambers of the National Assembly is a sense of pride as you represent your nation,” he said.
Parliament’s presiding officers, in a statement, on Sunday, said that the cause of the fire had not yet been established and investigations were under way by the authorities.
“The presiding officers of Parliament are distressed by this incident and the extent of the damage caused thus far to the precincts of the seat of the national legislature. They have urged all relevant authorities to leave no stone unturned in establishing the cause of the fire. The public will be kept updated,” they said.
According to reports, the fire resulted in the roofs of some parts of the building collapsing and some of the offices being destroyed. However, the Parliament library, museum, and offices of the speaker, deputy speaker, and President Cyril Ramaphosa were reported to not have been affected by the fire.
President Ramaphosa, in a statement, on Sunday said: ”I am deeply saddened by the scenes all of us are witnessing today as flames engulf the home of our democracy in the precinct of Parliament. This is a disastrous event that should sadden all of us.”
He said the fire happened a day after the funeral of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
“Waking up to the destruction of Parliament is a terrible setback from what we were basking in yesterday (Saturday). The Archbishop would have been devastated as well, as this is a place he prayed for, supported and wanted to see as a repository of our democracy.”
He said Parliament and the security agencies of the government were looking into the cause of the incident.
“We must allow these investigations to continue. While these investigations continue, I believe we are united as a nation in our sadness at this destruction of the home of our democracy.”
Ramaphosa said that notwithstanding the damage that has been done to the precinct, the work of Parliament would carry on.
He said he had requested the Speaker to convene a joint sitting of Parliament for the State of the Nation Address, which will be held on February 10.
“In the wake of this devastating occurrence, we will continue to consult on what we can do to ensure continuity in the functioning of Parliament as the critical institution in our democratic infrastructure.”
Ramaphosa also said that a man had been taken in for questioning on Sunday.
He was subsequently arrested. Zandile Christmas Mafe, 49, appeared at Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
He was charged with housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, two counts of arson, possession of an explosive device and destruction of an essential infrastructure.
Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Western Cape said more charges are likely to be added as the investigation continues.
He said the State will oppose Mafe’s bail application which he intends to bring at his next appearance scheduled for January 11.