Forensic experts from the South African Police Service on Saturday night sealed off the ANC headquarters at Albert Luthuli House in downtown Johannesburg to probe a fire that caused extensive damage to the offices of ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe, The Sunday Times reported.
The paper said there was an apparent spat between National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi and National Intelligence Agency chief Billy Masetlha outside the building. Masetlha and two other ANC officials had donned protective clothing and tried to enter the building but Selebi had refused to let them in, saying: ”No-one goes in until the forensic teams have gone in”.
The blaze began shortly before 2pm on the sixth floor of the building, which houses offices of the ANC secretariat, including Motlanthe and the ANC Youth League, said The Sunday Times. Fire fighters from four fire stations rushed to the scene and contained the fire to one office.
Emergency services spokesperson Malcolm Midgley said there would however be ”damage from water and smoke to the rest of the floor”.
The extent of the damage is not yet known. By late afternoon fire fighters were still busy ”dampening and ventilating” the burnt area on the sixth floor.
Several high-ranking members of the ANC were on the scene, including Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe. – Sapa