CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 02: Louis Botha Statue at Parliament on January 02, 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is reported that emergency services were notified of the blaze shortly after 05:00 and personnel from several fire stations have been deployed to contain the fire. (Photo by Gallo Images/Darren Stewart)
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 02: Louis Botha Statue at Parliament on January 02, 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is reported that emergency services were notified of the blaze shortly after 05:00 and personnel from several fire stations have been deployed to contain the fire. (Photo by Gallo Images/Darren Stewart)
House Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has addressed claims that the fire which gutted Parliament on Sunday was actually a deliberate act. The senior politician, however, has cautioned against those who are already calling this incident an arson attack.
‘It would be a sad day for South Africa’ – Mapisa-Nqakula
Mapisa-Nqakula was speaking to the media earlier this afternoon, with the fire still ripping through Cape Town’s iconic democratic centre. Although she didn’t want to perpetuate any unsubstantiated claims, the Speaker did state that any purposeful attempt to start the blaze would be ‘an attack on SA’s democracy’.
One person has been arrested on Sunday, and President Ramaphosa hailed the swift work of crime scene investigators deployed by SAPS. With a national key point burning to the ground, NMN did not hold back with her emotive take on the situation.
“I’m concerned about the issue that’s trending that parliament is under attack, I think it would be a sad day for South Africa, or anyone, to have an idea let alone the intention to go and attack such an institution.”
“It also has an oversight role on the executive, therefore anyone who thinks of attacking an institution of Parliament, actually attacks our democracy and attacks everything that South African people fought for.”
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Is arson to blame for the Parliament Fire?
With many suspecting that arson is to blame for such a vicious and fast-spreading blaze, Mapisa-Nqakula has urged citizens not to spread fake news. A report on the matter is due to be published ‘within 48 hours’, and any speculation over this incident should be put to bed by Tuesday.
“My plea with those on social media is that, until such a time that a report has been furnished that there was arson, we have to be careful not to make suggestions that there was an attack.”
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula saddened by the fire at Parliament pic.twitter.com/gB5fekDbA7
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) January 2, 2022
