The Democratic Alliance expressed shock and deep concern after a fire broke out in the Makhado Municipality building.

The DA demands a thorough forensic investigation into the cause of the fire.

“According to our information, the fire allegedly started in the Corporate Services office on Sunday, January 9. While details around the fire remain sketchy and unclear, the DA finds it extremely upsetting that the Corporate Services office was the focus of the fire. With the high presence of the South African Police Force at the scene of the fire, it would appear that arson is suspected,” DA Councillor Annette Kennealy said on Monday.

The DA states that the fire came “after a dismal report by the Auditor General in 2010, indicating that the Makhado Municipality was non-compliant with regulatory requirements and management was found inadequate in monitoring and in supervision over financial reporting and of financial statements.”

Concern was expressed by the DA that important documents and statements could have been destroyed.

“A comprehensive forensic investigation is needed, and all the more so, should it be found that the fire was started with malicious intent,” Cllr Kennealy said.

The Democratic Alliance said that with fraud and corruption rife in the province, “our citizens deserve … transparent governance and a corruption-free society.”