DA Accuses Parliament of Criminal Negligence in the Fire Report

DA’s Concerns Over the Parliament Fire Report

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has expressed serious concerns regarding the report on the fire that engulfed Parliament in January 2022, emphasizing what they perceive as criminal negligence leading to the destruction of South Africa’s symbol of democracy.

The Secretary to Parliament, Mr. Xolile George, released the report, shedding light on critical issues that could have averted the disaster.

Lapses in Parliament’s Security and Safety Measures

Siviwe Gwarube MP, Chief Whip of the Official Opposition, highlighted the Secretary’s revelations as deeply troubling.

He stressed that several crucial deficiencies within Parliament’s security and safety measures should have prevented the fire. The lapses identified include:

• Failure to meet minimum security standards.
• Inadequate deployment of Parliamentary Protection Services on weekends and during public holidays.
• The assailant’s ease of access to the precinct, breaching a perimeter fence meant to have been upgraded in 2004.
• Officers meant to monitor CCTV footage found sleeping on the job.
• The precinct’s classification as a fire hazard due to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s negligence.
• Unreliable fire systems within Parliament that could not detect the fire or issue timely alerts.
• Malfunctioning exit doors that could have hindered evacuation procedures.
• The fire system’s dysfunction causing delays in the emergency response, allowing the fire to spread uncontrollably.
• The absence of a permanent Head of Security for several years.

Responsibility and Accountability

Gwarube emphasized that the revealed details affirm that the fire resulted from institutional failures.

Ultimately, the custodians of the parliamentary precinct are the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.

He held Ms. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Mr. Amos Masondo accountable, as the Powers, Privileges, and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act specifies their joint control and authority over the precinct on behalf of Parliament.

DA’s Call for Action

In response to these findings, Siviwe Gwarube expressed the DA’s intent to take action.

He intends to write to the Acting Speaker, Mr. Lechesa Tsenoli, and the Acting Chairperson of the NCOP, Ms. Sylvia Lucas, urging them to expeditiously present the report before the Joint Standing Committee of Financial Management of Parliament (JSCFM) for public discussion and scrutiny.

The aim is to determine accountability and ensure that responsibility is taken for a fire that will have a lasting impact.

Gwarube concluded that accountability should commence within Parliament before extending to the executive branch.