The fire in the South African parliament building in Cape Town was brought under control after about a day. However, much of the building went up in flames.
“The fire was under control during the night,” a spokesman for the fire service said Monday morning. However, he adds that the fire is still raging in the oldest part of the building. The fire started early Sunday morning for unknown reasons.
The oldest part of the parliament building was completed in 1884. Two new parts were added in the 1920s and 1980s. The fire is believed to have started in the oldest part, in one of the offices, and then spread through the building.
Among other things, the part where the parliament sits was burned down. No one was hurt. Parliament was on Christmas break. The police arrested a man who was in the building. He is due to appear in court on Tuesday.
The fire will not affect the work of parliament, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa. “The work will continue,” he said. The parliament is in Cape Town, and the government is almost 1500 kilometres away in Pretoria.