DA demands timelines on Premier Lesufi's established Commission of Inquiry into the Marshalltown fire

5 September 2023

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng notes the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the Marshalltown fire; however, we demand timelines as to when this inquiry will be concluded and the report handed over to Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

The affected communities and organisations are urged to make submissions to the commission. The commission will thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire and the prevalence of hijacked buildings in Johannesburg. They will make recommendations on what must be done.

Based on previous experience, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has established several commissions that have not yet yielded any positive results despite money being spent on them. In some cases, the commission will table recommendations that GPG fails to implement and hold those implicated accountable, which is a waste of the provincial coffers and denies justice for the victims.

The DA proposes the following to ensure that the commission delivers on its mandate:

- Timelines to highlight when the commission will conclude its investigation;

- The commission report be made public;

- The commission's recommendations be implemented;

- Premier to provide feedback on the progress of implementing the commission's recommendations.

By so doing, this will ensure value for money spent on this commission and ensure that those implicated are held to account to face the consequences of their actions.

The commission must adhere to the timelines. We won't accept unnecessary extensions or delays that add further costs to the taxpayers and only work to protect those implicated in the Marshalltown fire.

Issued by Solly Msimanga, Leader of the Official Opposition in Gauteng, 5 September 2023