One person arrested after fire breaks out at Pretoria Legal Practice Council building

A GROUP of five people attempted to set fire to the Legal Practice Council building behind the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, on Monday.

Spokesperson for Tshwane Emergency Services Charles Mabaso said firefighters arrived to find part of the building alight, with some occupants reportedly still trapped between the first and third floors.

Mabaso said six offices, two each on the ground, first and third floors of the building, were found to be on fire.

Firefighters managed to get the blaze under control and extinguished it while ensuring all occupants were safely evacuated.

Emergency medical practitioners treated eight patients on the scene, while two people the security officers at the building suspected of being arsonists were treated for minor injuries and taken to hospital.

One other patient was treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital, while another was treated for smoke inhalation and released.

Mabaso said the Gauteng Emergency Medical Services assessed a further four patients and released them too.

“Only the six offices suffered fire damage and parts of the three floors suffered smoke and water damage. Firefighters had to conduct positive ventilation to get rid of excessive smoke from the building after which the scene was handed over to the SAPS for further investigation.”

Legal Practice Council spokesperson Kabelo Letebele said one person was arrested following the fire.

Letebele said according to information, five people went in to meet one of the legal officers, and after that meeting, they started to ransack the place and attack the official.

He said one of the people was in possession of what was believed to be a petrol bomb, which led to the fire.

Letebele said the group, suspected to be family members, had a case with the legal watchdog.

“It appears that after consulting with the representative, they (the group) started to assault a member of staff and set the office on fire,” said Johan van Staden, Gauteng provincial director.

“The police arrested one person on suspicion of arson and assault … the fire affected an office in which we consult with members of the public.”