By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has applauded the speed and efficiency with which the firefighters reacted to the devastating fire that ravaged large parts of Parliament.
The DA leader John Steenhuisen,Chief Whip Natasha Mazzone, Member of Parliament Siviwe Gwarube and Public Works Shadow minister Samantha Graham briefed the media outside Parliament.
Steenhuisen thanked the firefighters, had it not been for these firefighting heroes, who responded within six minutes of getting the call, we could have seen nothing but a pile of ash where the buildings of hope and freedom once stood.
Steenhuisen said nobody must be made a scapegoat for the devastating fire which gutted the National Assembly.
“We welcome that arrest, but we must also not allow scapegoating to take place. We need to get to the bottom of why these fire started, how it was allowed to spread and why it was able to do so in such a manner, what systems were working and which systems were not working?
“What we have seen over the last few days is a lot of blame-shifting between various role players and I think that every section of Parliament needs to step up and take responsibility,” said Steenhuisen.
“He said the party will work to ensure that the legislature is back up and running again.
“If this is as some are suggesting, an assault on our democracy then the best reaction will be to ensure that democracy doesn’t stop doing its work.
“And so the focus for us over the next few weeks and months will be on how we get Parliament business back up and running as seamlessly as possible.”
Mazzone said at a meeting scheduled for 14:00, the DA will insist on an independent forensic investigation. She said the fire looks like something “sinister”.
“Democracy has to start working today,” said Mazzone. She said the DA’s first priority is to ensure Parliament’s work continues.
DA spokesperson on Public Works Samantha Graham said Minister Patricia de Lille had knowledge that the systems were deficient.
“The buildings have become neglected, dirty, dangerous and certainly not befitting of the home of South Africa’s democracy.”
Steenhuisen also noted that the State Capture Commission’s report will be released later today and said the report must be tabled at the National Assembly as soon as possible.