No vital information appears to have been lost in the fire that damaged part of the African National Congress’s headquarters in Johannesburg over the weekend, party secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe said on Monday.
”While a detailed assessment is yet to be undertaken, there is currently no indication that vital information was lost in the fire,” Motlanthe said in a statement.
Damage caused by the fire that broke out at Luthuli House in Sauer Street at about 1pm on Saturday was restricted to the sixth floor, which houses units belonging to Motlanthe’s offices.
”A section of this floor suffered extensive damage, primarily offices of the ANC’s political education and training unit,” Motlanthe said.
Luthuli House will remain closed at least until Wednesday while clean-up work is undertaken.
The weekly meeting of ANC officials will go ahead at another venue.
Although Motlanthe was leaving the building at the time the alarm was sounded, nobody was injured in the blaze, which emergency services brought under control.
The police would not comment on the investigation into the causes of the fire, but Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson Malcolm Midgley said this would include a thorough examination by forensics experts. — Sapa