By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has officially introduced and announced the terms of reference of the commission of inquiry into the deadly Marshalltown tragedy.
On 31 August, a blaze ripped through a hijacked building in the Johannesburg inner city, killing 77 people and leaving many more with injuries.
The provincial government has established a commission of inquiry which will be looking into the cause of the fire.
The inquiry will be chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe, and is set to investigate the prevalence of hijacked buildings in Johannesburg, the cause of the blaze and who must take responsibility for the tragedy.
Advocate Thulani Makhubela and former Ekurhuleni councillor Vuyelwa Mathilda Mabena will work alongside Khampepe.
Lesufi said the commission would investigate independently of political interference and its work would be separate from investigations carried out by law enforcement entities, including SAPS.
The terms of reference further state that, while the core investigating team consists of three members, Khampepe may solicit assistance from additional members not part of the inquiry.
The commissioners or officers involved with the commission are also empowered to inspect any premises and seize documents that may help the commission’s work, provided they have a warrant.
Equally, the commission’s members are not allowed to share any evidence externally, without written consent from Khampepe.
The chairperson may permit the cross-examination of witnesses and their assistance by attorneys, if this advances the commission’s work.
The commission, which will be divided into two phases, will start its first phase on 1 October and end on 30 November.
The second phase will start on 1 January 2024 and end on 31 March 2024.
The commission will then submit a report on the findings and recommendation to Lesufi by the end of April 2024.
Johannesburg MMC for Community Safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, said the commission was a waste of money as it was clear what happened and what the solutions were.
However, Lesufi said government needed to be guided by evidence and well-researched solutions, not hearsay.