Another failed promise as reports on Bank of Lisbon fire still not made public

9 December 2021

Earlier this year Gauteng Premier David Makhura promised to release in October a consolidated report on the fire that started at the head office of the Gauteng Health Department at the Bank of Lisbon Building.

Four investigations were done into this fire which happened more than three years ago on 5 September 2018 and cost the lives of three firefighters, but Makhura now says in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature that “the date of issuing the report is not available yet as the reports are still awaited.”

This is very disappointing and adds to suspicions that the delay is because the findings could implicate senior ANC politicians and senior officials who failed to take legally required preventive measures. They could even face criminal charges.

Immediately after the fire I laid criminal charges of culpable homicide against then Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa and Infrastructure Development MEC Jacob Mamabolo for negligence in not setting up a functioning Occupational Health and Safety Committee for the building, and for ignoring multiple warnings from unions and staff about the fire hazard.

Investigations were done by the SA Police Service, the City of Johannesburg, the Provincial Government and the Department of Labour.

Makhura now says:

“Once all the investigations are completed, we will coordinate with the various agencies and departments of local, provincial and national government about the public release of the consolidated outcomes and relevant remedial action to be taken. This will be preceded by consultation with the families of the Johannesburg Fire Fighters who lost their lives during the fire.”

Premier Makhura is losing credibility as he keeps promising to make public the reports on various investigations but it never happens.

Endless investigations allow politicians to evade accountability in this and other matters.

Meanwhile, the families of the firefighters who died still do not have closure for the loss of their loved ones.

I will continue to press for all the reports to be made public so that there is no cover-up and real accountability happens.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 9 December 2021