Parliament fire: Emotional loss as South Africa loses valuable history

Former parliamentarian and current political analyst Dr Pieter Mulder says the damage caused by the fire at Parliament will be ‘immeasurable’.

“The material damage will add up to millions of rands, but the loss of history and the emotional damage will be even bigger,” says Mulder.

Mulder, who served in Parliament for more than 30 years, knows the precinct very well and often took people on tours through the historic building.

According to Mulder, this is where Thabo Mbeki delivered his ‘I’m an African’ speech.

The fire broke out on Sunday and flared up again on Monday. This morning (Tuesday) it was once again brought under control. According to Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo, Monday’s fire caused further damage, with more floors being completely gutted. The roof of the building where the flare up occurred was completely destroyed.

The initial blaze affected both the Old Assembly Wing and the National Assembly Wing, which house the chambers of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.

Mothapo says a suspect has been arrested and appeared in court today. The case was remanded to January 11.

A multidisciplinary team of professional engineers is assessing the fire, trying to determine the cause, the extent of damage, the safety of the building, and the estimated cost as well as timelines for repairs.

“The Old Assembly hosted the negotiations for the final Constitution. Furthermore, international visitors like Bill Clinton and Queen Elizabeth visited Parliament,” says Mulder.

“Then there is the loss of very valuable artworks and historical documents, like the Keiskamma tapestry of 120 metres, depicting the history of South Africa’s first people.”

Mulder says these articles can never be replaced.

WATCH: Analyst Dr Pieter Mulder spoke to journalist Izak du Plessis about the true losses caused by the Parliament fire.