The government has been forced to reinforce security at the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court after a third fire broke out, the Justice Department said on Thursday.
Spokesperson Tlali Tlali said Wednesday’s fire, the third in as many days in the court, caused minimal damage to a prosecutor’s office.
”Someone threw burning paper through the office’s window. We cannot rule out arson at this stage because it is definitely not a joke for someone to throw burning paper into a building, unless they are mentally unsound,” said Tlali.
He said the department was concerned about the fires and had beefed up security at the court.
”We already had a plan to improve safety and security in all our institutions nationally. Because of the fires, the department was forced to prioritise Pretoria,” Tlali said.
The first fire broke out on Monday in the court’s basement storeroom, where papers and furniture were kept. Fifteen people, including 12 prisoners and two firemen, were treated for smoke inhalation.
On Tuesday afternoon another fire started on the fourth floor, this time under a magistrate’s chair.
Tshwane Municipality spokesperson Console Tleane said: ”The fire was on the fourth floor in courtroom one. It started at about 3.30pm somewhere underneath the magistrate’s chair, and his bench and table were completely burnt out. Documents that were on the magistrate’s bench were burnt.”
Nobody was injured. — Sapa