Two days after a fire severely damaged the Department of Home Affairs’ Germiston office, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Mosa Chabane, called for a rapid investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

The fire, which occurred during a protest on Tuesday morning, has severely impacted the office’s infrastructure and the public’s access to vital services. 

People had been protesting following evication at a nearby housing complex. 

The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that all important documents, including smart IDs and passports, were safely secured and not destroyed in the blaze.

Two people have been arrested and charged with public violence, Gauteng police said. 

Speaking on Thursday, Chabane expressed his dismay, emphasising that the damage is more than just infrastructural.

“The burning of public infrastructure during a protest is regressive and robs citizens of accessing the necessary services from the DHA,” he said. 

He further noted that this act places additional strain on an already stretched national budget, as new resources will be needed to rebuild the office.

Chabane urged the South African Police Service (SAPS) to act quickly to investigate the incident and arrest anyone involved. While acknowledging the constitutional right to protest, he stressed that such actions must remain within the bounds of the law.

“The lawlessness that resulted in the burning of the DHA office must not be tolerated,” Chabane emphasised.

The Chairperson commended the DHA’s swift response in deploying mobile trucks to the area to ensure that clients are not left without services.

Nearby offices have been activated to handle the influx of citizens who rely on the Germiston branch.

This action, according to Chabane, will ensure that “innocent clients are not deprived of DHA services while investigations are underway.”

IOL News

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