[1] On the night of 3 March 1997, the greater part of the west block of the municipal headquarters of the City Council of Pretoria, known as Munitoria, was destroyed by fire and the south block seriously damaged. This resulted in a huge disruption of personnel and the functions of the City Council. With the assistance of the public and private sector, the personnel of the various departments were re-established in alternative accommodation. The west block was subsequently demolished and the south block renovated and upgraded.