A 49-year-old man accused of setting the South African parliament on fire appeared in court to face five charges including arson and possession of an explosive device. A lawyer for suspect Zandile Christmas Mafe said he denied the accusations and would plead not guilty. The case was adjourned until January 11. Officials have said important sections including a museum with artworks and heritage objects were saved from the blaze, as was an embroidered tapestry telling the story of the Eastern Cape on the ground floor of the Old Assembly Building. The elite Hawks police unit said on Monday the suspect was believed to have gained entry to the Parliament through an office window.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA
More Stories
Making the DRC’s Streets Safe Again
Planting Spree Helps Ghanaian Women
Streamlining Africa’s Hospitality Value Chain
Mali Declares Period of National Mourning Following Deadliest Attacks by Islamist Militants
Significant Wildlife Translocation Completed in Malawi
Harare’s Informal Economy Hardest Hit by Power Outages
Abuja Threatens to Leave Ecowas
Kagame and Blinken Meet on Sensitive Issues
VP Announces Nationwide Curfew after Security Forces Clashed with Demonstrators in Freetown
Kenyans Still Don’t Know Who their Next President Will Be
Movie Review: Refugees Turned Sommeliers
Helping African Tourism Companies and Experiences Space Do Business Online Cheaper