The roof of the parliament building has collapsed in a fire in South Africa

The roof of the parliament building has collapsed in a fire in South Africa

Global New News Desk –
A fire in South Africa has caused the roof of the parliament building to collapse. Firefighters are still trying to contain the blaze.

President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the scene and described it as “a horrific event.”

Police say they have detained a 51-year-old man and are questioning him.

Officials say the fire broke out in the fourth-floor office of the parliament building and quickly spread to the lower house of parliament, or the National Assembly, the lower house.

They say the fire has severely damaged the entire parliament complex.

Jean-Pierre Smith, a security official in Cape Town, said the roof of the old session room had completely collapsed.

A BBC correspondent says no one was injured in the blaze and no motive has been identified for the blaze. Parliament is currently in session due to holidays.
Video footage shows flames from the roof of the building and smoke billowing into the sky.

The Minister of Public Infrastructure, Patricia de Lille, had earlier said that a fire had also broken out in the session room of the Council of Provinces, the upper house of the South African parliament, but that it had been brought under control.

But the fire in the lower room is still burning, he said.
Firefighters say it will take another four hours to put out the blaze because the building has wooden floors and carpets inside.

GP Smith, a security official in Cape Town, said the roof of the building had collapsed and cracks had appeared in the walls – a matter of concern.

He added that the alarm did not work properly when the fire first started.

The South African Parliament building is divided into three parts. The oldest of these was built in 184. In addition, newer parts were built in the 1920s and 1960s.

The executive branch of the South African government is in Pretoria, the legislature is in Cape Town, and the judicial capital is in Bloemfontein.

The roof of the parliament building has collapsed in a fire in South Africa