Cape Town – Deputy President Paul Masatile’s first question and answer session in the National Assembly was reportedly delayed on Thursday due to a small fire that broke out on the first floor of Parliament‘s Good Hope building.
Mashatile’s appearance in the House was delayed by almost one hour.
House chairperson Grace Boroto announced shortly after 14:00 that the fire was on the first floor. The chamber is on the ground floor, Times Live reported.
“There is a fire on the first floor of this building. So they still want to investigate. They are still checking whether we should proceed from this venue,” the report quoted Boroto as saying.
JUST IN: Parliament is investigation what initially seemed to be a small fire on the first floor of the Good Hope building. However, reports on the ground suggest that a light bulb burst inside office 31 which caused a spark. This has delayed the Deputy President’s maiden Q and A pic.twitter.com/fFUfu5gXJ3
— Athi Mtongana (@AthiMtongana) March 23, 2023
According to IOL, Parliament said the fire was believed to be a spark and smoke in the Good Hope Chamber, where Mashatile was due to answer questions.
This had then triggered the fire alarm to go off in the chamber, the report said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
