Court fire: Extinguishers were broken

2012-10-23 10:07

Johannesburg - Fire extinguishers as well as a ceiling sprinkler system were out of order last Friday morning when court employees tried to bring the flames under control that destroyed both the Polokwane Magistrate's Court and the district court.

Court employees who spoke to Beeld said the fire spread and raged out of control very quickly, and that they thought it had originated in an office, according to the newspaper on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto said weekend rain had disrupted forensic investigations into the cause of the blaze.

Investigators on Monday combed the burnt-out ruins for clues, Otto said.

Only the outer walls of the building were still intact, and all computer systems, documents and sound equipment stored at the court were destroyed.

- SAPA