2022 Parliament of South Africa fire
A view of the South African Parliamentary buildings following the fire.
Date2 January 2022 (2022-01-02)
Time05:00 SAST (03:00 UTC)
VenueHouses of Parliament, Cape Town
LocationCape Town
Coordinates33°55′37″S 18°25′12″E / 33.92694°S 18.42000°E / -33.92694; 18.42000
CauseArson
SuspectsZandile Christmas Mafe

The 2022 Parliament of South Africa fire was a major fire at the parliamentary complex in Cape Town, South Africa.

Fire and response

On 2 January 2022, just after 05:00 am (SAST), the City of Cape Town's Fire & Rescue Service were notified of a fire at the parliamentary complex. The fire started on the third floor of the National Council of Provinces building and spread to the office space and the gymnasium, before spreading to the National Assembly.[1][2]

By the following morning, fire services personnel were still damping small hotspots in the complex.[3] During the afternoon on 3 January, a fire broke out again on the roof of the National Assembly building.[4][5]

Damage

The fire severely damaged the new National Assembly building. Offices and the gymnasium in the old National Assembly building were destroyed, and some floors suffered water and smoke damage.[6]

Despite extensive damage to the complex buildings, important works of art and heritage were reportedly intact.[7]

Aftermath

Arrest

A 49-year-old male suspect was arrested on 2 January by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), colloquially known as the Hawks.[8][9] The suspect is currently facing charges of arson, housebreaking, and theft under the National Key Points Act, and was due to appear in court on 4 January.[10] After a brief appearance in the Cape Town Magistrates' Court, the suspect Zandile Christmas Mafe was remanded into custody until 11 January, pending a bail application and further investigation of the circumstances of the fire.[11] The prosecution revealed he has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. The state wants him committed to a mental institution for 30 days observation to decide whether he is fit to stand trial.[12]

Investigation

Initial reports stated that the sprinkler system had not functioned correctly,[13] protection services staff were not on duty,[14] and the CCTV system was not being monitored in the time running up to the start of the fire.[15]

On 6 January 2022, the City of Cape Town released a preliminary report based on observations from the fire services.[16][17] This report confirmed that the National Assembly sprinkler valve system had not been serviced since 2017, and was closed at the time of the fire. It also found that fire doors were latched open, which aided the spread of the fire.[18]

SONA and National Assembly sittings

On 7 January 2022, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Amos Masondo revealed in a statement that President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SONA) would be held at the Cape Town City Hall on 10 February 2022. The subsequent Debate on the State of the National Address and the President's Reply will also take place at the venue.[19][20] The SONA was attended by 300 Members of Parliament and 70 guests in order to comply with COVID-19 regulations.[21]

On 10 January, Mapisa-Nqakula announced that National Assembly sittings, including Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget Speech in February, will be held in the Good Hope Chamber. The Good Hope Chamber is one of the oldest meeting rooms of Parliament. It was the meeting place of the Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope from 1854 to 1885. The chamber has a seating capacity for 170 persons and allows 70 persons under COVID-19 regulations.[22][23][24]

Alleged confession

On 29 January 2022, the State alleged that Mafe confessed to starting a fire in the parliamentary building. According to an affidavit given to investigators after his arrest and read out to the court, Mafe said that it was "the right thing" to set parliament on fire as he wanted to prevent Ramaphosa from delivering his annual SONA. He also demanded Ramaphosa's resignation, the release of Janusz Waluś as well as R1,500 for unemployed South Africans.[25]

Repair and refurbishment

The Secretary of Parliament, Mr Xolile George, stated the rebuilding of Parliament will take R2 billion and approximately 2 years to complete.[26] In March 2023, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) was appointed as the Project Lead.[27] The full restoration is to be completed by 10 September 2025. Members of Parliament will receive offices and new equipment to complete their work as soon as possible, according to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. Rubble removal is predicted to be completed by 31 July 2023 and repairs on the Old Assembly is slated to begin on 20 June 2023.[27]

References

  1. ↑ Bhengu, Lwandile. "WATCH | Fire breaks out in Parliament, firefighters battling to contain blaze". News24. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  2. ↑ "BREAKING NEWS: South Africa's Parliament building is on fire". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  3. ↑ Patrick, Alex (3 January 2022). "Fourth-floor hotspots being damped down in National Assembly". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "National Assembly building roof on fire again". News24. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "Fire breaks out again at South African parliament a day after main assembly chamber 'completely gutted'". Sky News. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  6. ↑ Patrick, Alex (4 January 2022). "'200°C heat trapped in the roof': Fire flare-up completes the destruction of new National Assembly building". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  7. ↑ Patrick, Alex (3 January 2022). "Major artwork and heritage items safe after parliament blaze, but some pieces still to be checked". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Hawks take over investigation of Parliament fire, arrest 49-year-old". News24. 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "South Africa parliament: Man arrested over massive fire". BBC News. 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  10. ↑ Patrick, Alex (3 January 2022). "Fourth-floor hotspots being damped down in National Assembly". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  11. ↑ Nombembe, Philani (4 January 2022). "Alleged parliamentary arsonist remanded in custody for a week". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "Terror charge added as alleged parliament arsonist is diagnosed with mental illness". TimesLIVE. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "Cape Town: Major blaze rips through South Africa parliament building". BBC News. 2 January 2022.
  14. ↑ Merten, Marianne (2 January 2022). "Major fire wracks parliament building, raising questions about why no protection services staff were on duty". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  15. ↑ Cruywagen, Vincent (4 January 2022). "OUR BURNING ASSEMBLY: CCTV cameras not monitored as alleged arsonist 'roamed Parliament for hours'". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  16. ↑ "Parliament post fire assessment report by City of Cape Town Fire Services". City of Cape Town. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  17. ↑ Fire at Parliamentary Complex (PDF) (Report). City of Cape Town. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  18. ↑ Charles, Marvin (7 January 2022). "Parliament fire: Report finds sprinkler valve was not serviced for several years and was closed". News24. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "Parliament decides to hold Sona at the Cape Town City Hall". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  20. ↑ Fisher, Shamiela. "National Assembly sittings to return to Parliament precinct after Sona". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Sona to be attended by only 300 MPs at Cape Town City Hall". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  22. ↑ "Budget Speech to be held at Parliament's Good Hope Chamber". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  23. ↑ "National Assembly sittings to be held at Good Hope Chamber". Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  24. ↑ "LOOK: Check out the National Assembly's 'new' venue [PICS]". The South African. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  25. ↑ "Zandile Mafe wanted to burn Parliament to prevent SONA, demand president's resignation, court hears". News24. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  26. ↑ Lekabe, Thapelo (21 February 2023). "R2 billion and two years to rebuild Parliament". The Citizen. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  27. 1 2 Seeletsa, Molefe (12 May 2023). "Parliament fire: Rubble yet to be removed as MPs inspect damaged buildings". The Citizen. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
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