Msimanga shuts down ‘unsafe’ Poyntons building in CBD
The building was evacuated during a surprise safety inspection visit.
The metro has shut down the Poyntons building in the Pretoria CBD for being “unsafe” on Wednesday.
The building currently houses the department of correctional services.
Workers at the building were told to immediately evacuate the building, following a surprise safety inspection.
The decision to shut the building down was made during a special operation. led by Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga.
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It forms part of the metro’s inner city rejuvenation programme.
The programme drive mainly focuses on derelict buildings as well as curbing crime and substance abuse.
“Our unannounced visit at Poyntons building brought home the sad reality of some government buildings that do not meet the necessary safety regulations and thus putting the lives of hundreds of employees at risk,” said Msimanga.
He said it was evident during the inspection that the building does not comply with the minimum fire safety requirements set for a building of that height.
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It is said that the 100 metre tall 32-storey building, 100m high, which houses about 1 700 people, does not have any firefighting water inside the building.
“Further, various other life-threatening conditions exist in the building that warranted the closure of the building,” said Msimanga.
Due to national building regulations not being adhered to, we immediately stopped all activities and asked that staff evacuate the building with immediate effect. No one will be allowed to occupy the building until such time that all regulations are adhered to.”
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Emergency services have issued a prohibition notice to the building owner to cease any and all activities within the building and subsequently to immediately close the building and evacuate all occupants and tenants alike.
“The building will remain closed until such time that the Emergency Services conducts a regulatory re-inspection of the premises and is at such occasion satisfied that the building is in compliance with the fire protection regulations and related concomitant fire safety requirements.”
The building inspection comes in the wake of a recent fire at the Bank of Lisbon building in Johannesburg in which three firefighters died.
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