PUBLIC works and infrastructure minister Patricia de Lille on Sunday said an independent team has been appointed to assess the damage caused to the parliamentary buildings by last month’s fire.
The specialist team would provide detailed assessments of the damage, rehabilitation and restorative measures and restoration costs.
“The professional team’s visual assessment started with the old National Assembly and then proceeded to assess the structural damages to the new National Assembly. On the basis of the preliminary visual inspections, there was evidence of severe structural damage (major spalling) to the slabs. The slabs affected by the damage are the second, third and fourth floor. In addition, there were major cracks in the walls on the second and third floor,”she said.
“The professional team advised that the new Assembly building is unsafe and should be cordoned off and closed in order to restrict access.”
De Lille said the National Treasury had agreed to expedite the process to procure the independent specialist engineering team as expeditiously as possible.
“DPWI’s bid evaluation committee recommended Coega be appointed for the independent assessment. In close consultation with National Treasury, on Friday, DPWI appointed the Coega Development Corporation to perform assessments of the fire damaged buildings at parliament,” she said.
“Following the DPWI engineering services’ recommendation that specialised structural engineering assessment work be undertaken in order for the buildings to be made safe for access, a scope of works was generated from the DPWI’s engineering services team for this work.”
Two weeks ago, the high court denied bail on to a man charged with crimes including arson over a devastating fire at the national parliament, prosecutors said.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said in a statement that it believed it had a strong case against the accused, Zandile Mafe, who has denied the charges against him.
The NPA said it would oppose any appeal launched by Mafe against the bail ruling, adding that Mafe’s lawyer had told reporters outside the Cape Town Regional Court that such an appeal would be made.
Mafe faces charges of housebreaking with intent to commit terrorism and arson, terrorism, arson and theft, according to the NPA.
- * Inside Politics
