For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Report finds National Assembly sprinkler valve was not serviced for several years and was closed; State capture report slams PWC for failing to identify corruption during SAA looting spree; And, Bain hits back at scathing Zondo report

Report finds National Assembly sprinkler valve was not serviced for several years and was closed

The City of Cape Town fire department's post-incident report into the blaze that ravaged Parliament has confirmed that the National Assembly sprinkler valve was not serviced since 2017 and was closed at the time of the fire.

The report also confirmed that the fire doors were latched open, which assisted in the spread of the fire.

Public Works Minister Patricia De Lille told Parliament on Tuesday that the sprinkler system was "fully functional" by October 2021.

Divisional Commander Wayne Visser also stated in the report that the emergency staircases were poorly ventilated with minimal natural vents to the outside. No mechanical venting of the staircases was observed.

Visser added that it is unclear which apportion of the building was actually fitted out with sprinklers. The required layout block plan at the valve set was illegible.

The report also raised concerns about wall panelling and décor materials that contributed to the fire.

State capture report slams PWC for failing to identify corruption during SAA looting spree

The State Capture Inquiry report has slammed South African Airways's former auditors PWC for failing in its duty as a watchdog institution when it audited the books of the flag carrier between 2012 and 2016. 

PWC and its joint audit partner, Nkonki Incorporated, gave the State-owned airline unqualified audits for each of the five years they provided external audit services. This meant that, in their view, SAA's financial statements were free from material misstatements caused by fraud or error. Nkonki Inc was voluntarily liquidated in April 2018.

The first section of the State Capture Inquiry report, released on Tuesday, found that during these five years, the airline's board was in a state of "precipitous governance decline" and was engaging in numerous acts of corruption and fraud.

The report found that PWC failed to devise audit procedures to detect corruption or irregular tenders.

And, Bain hits back at scathing Zondo report

The US management consultancy Bain & Company said the first part of the State Capture Inquiry's recently released report mischaracterised the role it played at the South African Revenue Service.

The report recommends that law enforcement agencies investigate Bain, "with a view to enabling the National Prosecuting Authority to decide whether or not to initiate prosecutions" related to the awarding of contracts from SARS to the group.

Additionally, given Bain's "unlawful" role in SARS, the report recommends that all Bain's contracts with state departments and organs of state be re-examined for regulatory and constitutional compliance.

The report found that Bain knew about the appointment of former commissioner Tom Moyane before it was announced, and that Bain's former managing partner had frequent meetings with former president Jacob Zuma. The inquiry found that Bain and Moyane did “detailed planning” of planned restructuring at the tax agency “before they even stepped foot into SARS”.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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