MPs demand answers after cops suspended over parliament blaze

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South Africa Headlines News

MPs on the joint standing committee on finance management of parliament on Friday demanded answers after the suspension of four police officers for their role on January 2 when the parliamentary precinct was allegedly set on fire.

The first to fire a salvo was ANC MP Bheki Radebe, speaking during the sitting in which a report was presented on the role of police in providing security in the precinct.

“The property was not secured and this fire was not prevented. That is why we have crime detection. I think the police have violated their mandate. The precinct was only declared a national key point in 2018,” said Radebe. “Since there are four people who have been pointed out to have been on duty and there is an internal investigation going on, are those people actively on duty? If they are, why are they actively on duty while there is an investigation?” Siwisa asked.

Schnetler told MPs his report was based on an observation made by officers at the time of the incident. The report was made available to the city’s mayor and parliament. Cele welcomed the suggestion of a meeting between the police, public works and parliament that will “come with a factual report, instead of coming with 'Deputy national police commissioner Lt-Gen Sehlahle Masemola told MPs police were responsible for the outer perimeter of the parliamentary precinct.

 

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