Parliament fire: Presiding officers to meet on Monday to assess damage

Parliament’s presiding officers will meet with relevant roleplayers later on Monday, including Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille, to assess the damage caused by the massive fire in Parliament.

Firefighters were still on the scene on Monday morning, carrying out damping down operations after bringing the blaze under control on Sunday.

A 49-year-old man has been arrested and will appear in court on charges of arson and theft on Tuesday.

It’s also emerged that the water sprinkler system had been turned off.

Political parties have reacted with shock following the devastating fire.

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba: “If these people can go to the extent of now burning our Parliament, a place where have to use it as politicians to protect our country, then we are in real big trouble.”

Parliament is not currently in session because of the holidays, so no injuries were reported.

But this is the second fire there in under a year – back in March, a blaze broke out after an electrical fault.

AIC member of Parliament Mahlubanzima Jafta said that taxpayers should be asking questions.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for an urgent meeting of the chief whips’ forum to get a full report on the fire.

It is also demanding that Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille makes public all the documents in her possession regarding the previous fire.

-EWN

In other news – Somizi’s n#des break the internet – Vusi Nova took them

Besties Somizi and Vusi Nova have fuelled romance rumours once again, and it’s all down to another steamy n#de pic. The former Idols SA presenter posted and deleted a picture of his bare butt on Instagram. And the cheeky star even tagged his photographer – the Ntandane hitmaker!

In the picture, which was screenshot and shared on Twitter, Somizi is seen standing on the edge of a pool, facing away from the camera. Learn More