New blaze at South Africa’s parliament brought under control
- Strong winds helped reignite blaze at the parliament buildings in Cape Town
- A 49-year-old man has been charged over starting the inferno early Sunday
A new blaze at the complex housing South Africa’s parliament in Cape Town was brought under control overnight, city officials said on Tuesday, as a suspect arrested in connection with the fire was due to appear in court.
An initial fire on Sunday caused the roof of the New Wing housing the assembly’s lower chamber to collapse. The roof of the Old Wing, which dates back to 1884 and houses the upper chamber, the National Council of Provinces, also partially collapsed.
The new blaze broke out on Monday, fanned by strong winds.
“Around midnight the fire was brought under control,” Cape Town city officials said in a statement. “Teams are now working their way through the maize-like building, room-for-room, as they attempt to locate and extinguish (hotspots).”
“This is a lengthy process, as some rooms are needing to have their interior wooden cladding pulled apart, in order to identify any concealed hotspots,” they said.
A 49-year-old man charged with arson and other offences including theft was expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
South Africa parliament blaze suspect charged with arson
The elite Hawks police said on Monday the suspect was believed to have gained entry to the parliament through an office window.
The fire swept through the buildings but officials have said important sections including a museum with artworks and heritage objects were saved, as was an embroidered tapestry telling the story of the Eastern Cape on the ground floor of the Old Assembly Building.
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Bush fire on South Africa’s Table Mountain sets University of Cape Town buildings ablaze
In March another fire also broke out in the older wings of parliament, but it was quickly contained.
Cape Town suffered another major fire in April, when a blaze on the famed Table Mountain which overlooks the city spread, ravaging part of the University of Cape Town’s library holding a unique collection of African archives.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse
