The government denied on Tuesday that President Thabo Mbeki had ordered the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to probe the collapse of a marquee on Women’s Day.
Suggestions that Mbeki wanted a report on the investigation before 2pm on Tuesday were also not true, government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe said.
He said the NIA ”naturally” got involved in such probes.
Mbeki was on a stage erected for a Women’s Day function at the Union Buildings in Pretoria last Saturday when the tent roof caved in.
A West Rand woman, Suraya Scott, suffered an injury to her spinal cord, permanently paralysing her from the waist down.
News reports on Tuesday said that Mbeki had ordered the NIA to join the probe into the matter, and wanted a report by 2pm.
Netshitenzhe said: ”The president did not order an NIA probe. When something like this happens, it is part of the core mandate of the NIA to investigate. And they are investigating.”
No deadline for the completion of this investigation had been set by Mbeki, Netshitenzhe said.
Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa, host of Saturday’s event, said on Monday he had asked Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana to institute a probe into the incident on behalf of the province.
Labour ministry spokesperson Snuki Zikalala said on Tuesday this inquiry was already under way.
”Our investigation is more of a technical nature, focusing on whether health and safety standards had been complied with,” he said.
Experts would, for example, study the weight, stability and suitability of the stage structure that had been used.
Should the NIA require information from the labour team to help them in their probe, this would be provided, Zikalala said.
”So far, we have not received any requests.”
Mdladlana wanted his department’s investigation completed as soon as possible, and it might be finalised before the end of the month, Zikalala said.
”We have to do a thorough job.”
He said experts would study information on the design of the structure, using, among other things, pictures taken after the collapse. They would also investigate whether proper procedures had been followed by the project manager.
The manager was supposed have obtained a go-ahead from a municipal inspector that the structure was sound. The fire brigade should also have declared the structure fire-proof.
”Early evidence indicates that the project manager has met neither of these two requirements,” Zikalala said.
NIA spokesperson Annelise Andersen said the agency became involved in any matter that related to the president’s security.
”It forms part of our security brief to ascertain whether there has been a deliberate attempt on his life.
”What we are involved in is a routine probe,” she said. — Sapa