Parliament’s Secretary on Wednesday released the findings of an internal forensic investigation into the January 2022 fire that gutted the National Assembly, which found that Parliament was unprotected at the time, due to staff not being on duty and several systems and maintenance failures.
Xolile George told the media yesterday, that Parliament would have been in one piece today if members of the Parliamentary Protection Service had been on duty.
At the time, there was a policy of compulsory leave of staff, which meant no-one was on duty over weekends, public holidays or at night.
Five Parliamentary officials have been implicated in a series of failures, either in human resources or systems, and George says in areas where the findings warrant action, particularly in matters of policy and security, steps are being taken to implement appropriate measures.
A summary of the key findings was released to the public, although the full report will be withheld, to protect ongoing processes and legal considerations.
Some of the findings include:
- Fire Prevention and Security Breach Avoidance:
The report emphasized that the fire incident could have been prevented, or its extent limited, if certain critical measures had been in place. One such measure was the decision not to deploy Parliamentary Protection Services officers at night and on public holidays and weekends during the 2021/2022 compulsory leave period, which left Parliament vulnerable.
2. Systems and Maintenance Failures:
The investigation identified a range of systems and maintenance failures that significantly contributed to both the security breach and the failure to prevent and contain the fire. These failures encompassed issues such as the height of the perimeter fence, the absence of perimeter monitoring, a malfunctioning emergency exit door, deficiencies in fire panels, and an unreliable REMRAD system. The absence of on-site Parliamentary Protection Services officers further resulted in a lack of CCTV monitoring within the precinct.
3. Critical Concerns Requiring Immediate Action:
The report underscored pressing concerns that demand prompt attention and rectification, including non-compliance with established building regulations, inadequacies in maintenance practices, and shortcomings in the Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) unit/audit. The absence of a designated Head of Security Management, the lack of a structured Security Committee, and delays in the security enhancement project were also highlighted as critical issues currently being addressed.
4. Heightened Vulnerability of Perimeter Fence:
A significant revelation was the heightened vulnerability posed by the Parliament’s perimeter fence; a concern flagged as far back as 2004 by the South African Police Services (SAPS). Lapses in perimeter monitoring were identified, including an incident where a SAPS officer tasked with monitoring a motion-detection camera had been asleep when an intruder breached the fence. The investigation raised questions regarding SAPS patrols during that period and identified additional complications such as a malfunctioning CCTV video wall and a problematic emergency exit door.
5. Fire Safety Deficiencies:
The investigation revealed pervasive non-compliance with fire regulations and requirements across multiple facets, including smoke detectors, fire alarm panels, emergency notification systems, sprinkler systems, and evacuation route planning.
A slew of recommended remedial actions have been outlined, which includes the swift appointment of a dedicated Head of Security Management, and an exhaustive evaluation of fire compliance for all Parliament buildings.
The report also recommends consideration for consequence management procedures against the five parliament officials for various failures, including the failure to implement security policies, ensure compliance with occupational health and safety standards, and establish a security committee as required.
The findings related to the alleged failures of those in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and SAPS, were not disclosed at this time.
In August, alleged arsonist Zandile Mafe was declared unfit to stand trial in connection with the fire.
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