Gauteng police have arrested two suspects in connection with a fire that broke out at the offices of the Legal Practice Council, which is situated behind the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
The blaze broke out at about 8am o Monday morning, few hours before the Senzo Meyiwa trial got underway.
Dimakatso Sello, the police spokesperson said: “Two men aged 21 and 46 have been arrested for arson and malicious damage to property.”
The suspects are expected to appear at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court soon, said Sello.
“Emergency medical practitioners treated a total of eight patients on the scene. Two patients, of whom the security officers at the building suspect them of being arsonists, were treated for minor injuries and transported to hospital,” said Thabo Charles Mabaso, the deputy chief of the Tshwane Emergency Services Department.
“Only six offices suffered fire damage, and parts of the three floors suffered smoke and water damage. Firefighters had to conduct positive ventilation to get rid of excessive smoke from the building The scene was handed over to the South African Police Service for further investigation,” said Mabaso.
Meanwhile, Kabelo Letebele, the Legal Practice Council (LPC) spokesperson said the fire has no bearing on the murder trial of slain Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
“There is no link between the fire and the Senzo Meyiwa case, and no documents have been destroyed. The fire started in a consulting room.”
Source: The Citizen, IOL, The South African, Sowetan Live, image from Twitter
