Five Years After Bank of Lisbon Fire, Still No SAPS Report

Five years have passed since the tragic Bank of Lisbon fire claimed the lives of three firefighters, and the awaited police report on this devastating incident is still pending.

Jacaranda FM reports that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi recently disclosed this disheartening delay in response to a query from the DA’s Jack Bloom during a session in the Gauteng legislature.

According to Lesufi, while the Department of Labour submitted its report in September 2022, the report from the South African Police Service (SAPS) remains conspicuously absent.

Reports from the City of Johannesburg and the provincial government have also been received. But the non-appearance of the SAPS report raises concerns about accountability and justice in this case.

Former Premier David Makhura had previously stated that all investigations would conclude by September 2021, with the promise of a consolidated report made available to the public. However, the current situation paints a different picture.

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Jack Bloom expressed his concerns, suggesting that the SAPS failed to complete their investigation due to astounding incompetence or a deliberate delay in shielding ANC politicians and senior officials who might bear responsibility for the fire.

This situation appears to contradict previous statements made by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, who had indicated last year that the department anticipated no further investigations unless new developments came to light.

Bloom suspects these reports have not been made public due to potential implications for former Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa and then Infrastructure Development MEC Jacob Mamabolo.

Following the Bank of Lisbon fire, criminal charges of culpable homicide were filed against them, alleging negligence for not establishing a functional Occupational Health and Safety Committee for the building and ignoring numerous warnings from unions and staff regarding fire hazards.

The DA is committed to seeking transparency and accountability. The party utilises the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to ensure that all reports of this tragedy are accessible to the public. This commitment underscores the importance of accountability, especially in cases where lives are tragically lost, as exemplified by the recent fire at the Albert Street building in inner-city Johannesburg.

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Picture: X / HamiltonNdlela

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