A massive fire broke out in the South African Parliament building in Cape Town on Sunday morning. Much of the building burned down, and a 51-year-old man was arrested.
The fire broke out around 5 a.m. local time (4 p.m. in Belgium) in the Old Parliament House, the place where then-President Frederic Willem de Klerk announced the end of apartheid in 1990.
A spokesman for the city’s emergency services, calling for reinforcements, said, “The ceiling caught fire, and the National Assembly building was also on fire.” The fire is now partially under control. Smoke can be seen from miles away. According to the American news channel CNN Part of the roof collapsed and destroyed the hall in which the lower house was located.
Infrastructure Minister and former Mayor of Cape Town Patricia de Lille said emergency services have the situation under control and that there are no known losses. South African MPs are currently in Christmas recess.
catch a man
Authorities have since arrested a 51-year-old man in connection with the fire. “A man has been arrested in the building. He is still being questioned as part of a criminal investigation. He has been arrested and will appear in court on Tuesday.”
Cape Town was already hit by a serious fire in April. A fire at Table Mountain loomed over the city and destroyed the prestigious University of Cape Town’s library at its foot.
