STATEMENT BY CAPE TOWN MAYOR, GEORDIN HILL-LEWIS

The devastating fire at Parliament today is a national tragedy. Cape Town is also the historic seat of Parliament, and so we share in the sense of tragedy felt by so many at this time.

While the full scale of the damage is being assessed, the City of Cape Town stands ready to do whatever it can to help.

I have been in contact with the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, to offer our immediate assistance so that the work of Parliament can continue.

Cape Town will make our Council Chamber available to the Speaker for sittings of the National Assembly, as well as the use of the Grand Parade and City Hall for the State of the Nation Address.

We want to see Parliament continue its important work, and we will do what we can to help.

Finally, I wish to thank the City of Cape Town firefighters who responded so quickly and in such force this morning, for their brave efforts to save as much of Parliament as possible. They deservedly earned the praise of President Cyril Ramaphosa in his press conference earlier, and they no doubt have the thanks of the country too.

Source: City Of Cape Town