By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
National Council of Provinces Chairperson, Amos Masondo says “we are pained by the damage to the old chamber, and the national chamber, and all the critical offices of parliament, which is a national keypoint…whose value is beyond measure.”
He said the Parliament building has historical significance and is a “source of social unity and cohesion required in nation building. We can confirm that one of the biggest losses in the fire is the complete burning down of the National Assembly chamber.”
Masondo said that the National Assembly building is one of three linked buildings that comprises the Parliament buildings in Cape Town. He said, in 2008, new offices were added for the president, speaker and deputy speaker, but these offices were not affected.
He added that the NCOP Chamber Offices, Parliamentary Library, Museum, and a tapestry were all spared from damage.
Masondo extended parliament’s gratitude to fire and rescue workers. He said they are grateful to President Cyril Ramaphosa and a number of his executive who have been hands on from the onset providing moral support to the fire fighters.
Public Works Minister Patricia De Lille says a team of engineers has been brought in to assess the damage. De Lille says the temperature inside the building at the moment is about 100 degrees Celsius, down from yesterday, when it was about 400.
She said engineers are deploying a drone into the damaged areas to make assessments and a fire expert has been brought in to determine the cause of the fire. A preliminary report will be available by Friday.
Meanwhile Parliament National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says there will be a meeting with police for a briefing on what happened regarding a suspect who was arrested on Sunday.
Mapisa-Nqakula denied Parliament “dropped the ball” when it came to protecting the Parliament buildings. She explains that a report she received dismissed claims that Parliament’s security cameras were not working.
She says the government received an offer from Cape Town’s convention centre to use their facilities. Another offer, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, was the use of the City Hall. Hill-Lewis also offered the City of Cape Town’s chambers.
Mapisa-Nqakula goes on to say that Parliament and government officials have received a lot of support after the incident. She reiterates that officials were at the sight as soon as they could have been.
Livestream Video Below:
Video Courtesy of Parliament.