As the runaway fire that began on the slopes of Devil’s Peak on Sunday – destroying precious heritage material held in a University of Cape Town library, and the historic Mostert’s Mill on the lower campus – continued to burn yesterday, a man appeared in court charged with starting a second fire on Sunday night.
Thirty-five-year-old Frederick Mhangazo, who said he lived in a makeshift structure on the slopes of Table Mountain, was caught by neighbourhood watch and law enforcement officials on Sunday night. He appeared in court yesterday. Two other suspected arsonists allegedly evaded capture.
Firefighters continued to battle a blaze on the higher slopes of the mountain yesterday. IOL reported that road closures were still in place as more than 150 firefighters and volunteers, and more than 30 firefighting vehicles, were on the ground to monitor flare-ups as the fire spread higher up on the mountain.
eNCA reported that more than 4 000 UCT students were evacuated from the Rondebosch campus and moved to hotels across the city. Classes have been suspended for the week.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng estimated that damage from the fire could run to more than R500 million. This excluded the loss of priceless books, documents and art work in the fire that destroyed much the African Studies library.