A man detained for setting South Africa’s parliament in Cape Town on fire was found at the site with explosives, prosecutors have alleged.
Zandile Christmas Mafe, 49, appeared at a city court to face charges under the Explosives Act, as well as claims of arson, theft and staging a break-in.
His lawyer said he was innocent of all the charges.
The fire first broke out on Sunday, totally destroying the National Assembly, or lower chamber. No one was injured the blaze, but it has shocked the nation.
“Wrong person”
Mafe is the only person arrested in connection with the fire.
He looked unkempt and dazed in court, the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko reports from Cape Town.
As he arrived in the dock, wearing shorts and a creased shirt, he removed his face mask and did a 360-degree turn while cameras flashed.
The police said Mafe was arrested within the parliament complex after the fire started, but his lawyer said the wrong person has been detained.
The case was postponed for seven days to allow law-enforcement officials to continue their investigations.
Firefighters say they have managed to contain the blaze, which flared up again on Monday. Strong winds caused smouldering wood in the roof to reignite.
A video of Monday’s blaze has been posted on the Parliament of South Africa Twitter account:
RE-EMERGENCE OF FIRE IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING: Firefighters are on the scene. #ParliamentFire pic.twitter.com/MXmklIS9MG
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) January 3, 2022
On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa – who admitted that the building’s sprinkler system had not functioned properly – praised firefighters for responding to the “terrible and devastating event” in minutes.
A government minister, Patricia de Lille, admitted separately that CCTV cameras had not been monitored at the time the initial fire started.
The chairman of the upper chamber, Amos Masondo, said Sunday’s fire had led to the “complete burning down” of the National Assembly chamber. Other areas of the parliamentary complex – parts of which date back to 1884 – were also badly damaged.
Parliament is currently not in session because of the holidays, and no one was injured.
National treasures
The building is home to thousands of treasures, including historic books, photographs and important works of art, which officials said had been saved.
There had been particular concern that the valuable Keiskamma Tapestry, which is 120 metres (394 feet) long and documents South Africa’s history, may have been damaged or destroyed.
It is expected to be many months before the building can be used again.
The Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, said the city council chamber will be made available as an alternative venue for Parliament to meet.
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