WORLD / AFRICA
No casualties reported as suspected arsonist set to appear in court
Published: Jan 03, 2022 06:11 PM
Policemen stand near fire engines at the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, on Jan. 2, 2022.Photo:Xinhua

Policemen stand near fire engines at the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, on Jan. 2, 2022.Photo:Xinhua


A man is due to appear in court on Tuesday after a massive fire tore through South Africa's national assembly building on Sunday, as police said firefighters struggled to bring the blaze completely under control.

Dozens of crews battled throughout the day to extinguish the fire which broke out at about 0300 GMT in the parliament complex's oldest wing, which was completed in 1884 and has wood-paneled rooms.

As day dawned, thick plumes of black smoke could be seen enveloping the historic building's imposing Victorian facade.

Officials said the entire section housing the National Assembly had been destroyed.

"The entire chamber where the members sit... has burned down," parliamentary spokesman Moloto Mothapo said, adding that the blaze had still not been extinguished.

He said the roof of the National Assembly had collapsed and that the fire was "so intense" in that part of the building that firefighters had been forced to withdraw.

No casualties were reported.

President Cyril Ramaphosa told reporters at the scene that a man had been held and that the building's sprinkler systems had apparently failed.

But he added that despite the damage "the work of parliament will carry on."

Police said later a suspect had been detained.

"A man has been arrested inside the parliament, he's still being interrogated. We have opened a criminal case. He has been arrested and will appear in court on Tuesday," police spokeswoman Thandi Mbambo said. The parliament building houses a collection of rare books and the original copy of the former Afrikaans national anthem: "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" ("The Voice of South Africa,") which was already damaged.

The full extent of the damage was still being assessed with more than 70 firefighters still at the scene.

Jean-Pierre Smith, Cape Town's mayoral committee member for safety and security, told reporters the entire complex had suffered extensive water and fire damage and "nothing" was left of the part of the historic section. This is where Parliament kept treasures including around 4,000 heritage and artworks, some dating back to the 17th century.

These include the 120-meter-long Keiskamma tapestry. Named after a river in the southeast of the country, the work traced the history of South Africa from the first indigenous peoples, the San, to the historic democratic elections of 1994.

After ravaging the older wing of the building, the flames spread to newer parts of the complex which are currently in use.

A team of firefighters who were first to arrive at the scene battled the flames for hours before being forced to retreat and call for reinforcements.

The area around the fire in the upmarket neighborhood was quickly cordoned off. 

AFP