A fire broke out this morning that is being likened to a “sad day for democracy” according to the Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille. The Cape Town Fire & Rescue Service were quick on the scene after they received calls regarding the fire. Initially, people were not certain where the fire was coming from.
Also read: Fire update: ‘A sad day for democracy’ says de Lille
According to SABC News, President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that a suspect has been taken in for questioning and that they are currently examining the Parliamentary precinct where parts of the National Key Point are still on fire.
The President also says that the fire that has damaged Parliament’s Old Assembly building will not postpone the work of the National Assembly.
National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, says the State of the Nation Address will go ahead next month despite the fire. A full investigation will be conducted once the fire has been extinguished.
“We do not know what we have lost. All of that information is information that can only be made available when one – the fire has been extinguished and two – when the police together with Parliamentary security and the executive management of Parliament have started working together to conduct an audit of what it is that we have lost during the course of this fire.”
The President thanks Western Cape’s Premier Alan Winde for his quick response in getting the help to fight the blaze and also praises the firefighters who arrived in a matter of minutes after the fire was reported.
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Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery
