A parliamentary official has allegedly shot himself dead at his workstation on the second floor of one of the office buildings within the legislature’s precinct.
This is according to several other parliamentary officials who spoke to TimesLIVE on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the media.
Details are still sketchy at this stage but it is understood the staff member was angry that the national legislature was not renewing his employment contract.
The entire second floor of the 90 Plein Street building has now been cordoned off as emergency services and the police are on the scene.
“We were just next door having a staff meeting and we just heard one gun shot and everybody started screaming‚” said one official.
Other staff members said this pointed to a serious security breach as nobody was allowed to enter their parliamentary offices with firearms‚ which were supposed to be declared to police officers manning the entrances to all parliamentary buildings.
“It once again exposes lax security in parliament. How do you arrive with a gun into the buildings of parliament‚” asked one official.
Parliamentary communicators were unable to immediately comment on the matter‚ saying an official statement would be issue later.
Thabo Mokone — TimesLIVE
