Goverment failed to protect parliament: DA

 The party addressed the media on its plan of action to get to the bottom of what caused the fire that broke out at parliament. 

Graham says there have been numerous reports from 2014 around the issues on the facility management side within parliament that have not been addressed. 

"There's evidence of cost-cutting, evidence where they have appointed people on the cheapest quote as opposed to the best quote. The minister is trying to negate the BDO report. Our minister stated that the BDO report isn't significant at this stage."

That's DA Public works shadow minister Samantha Graham. She says they believe that there were clear warning signs before the blaze broke out on Sunday morning. 

READ: Parliament fire suspect denies all charges

"They say at the very least the fire was burning for an hour before there was a notification on it. 

There were problems with the monitoring systems, fire panels and problems with the systems in place to stop the fire with the ventilation systems, the sprinkler systems and all the other things that should have protected our heritage and we are going to ask for answers. 

We want a copy of the report, we want the minister and department to account to parliament as to why they failed to safeguard and secure our national heritage

Meanwhile, a 49-year-old male suspect has made his first appearance at the Cape Town Magistrate Court yesterday.