Photo: Twitter
Photo: Twitter
Police in the Mother City have detained a suspect on suspicion of arson, after the Cape Town fires spiralled out of control over the weekend. As of Monday morning, the fierce flames are still causing havoc, after a number of residents in Vredehoek were evacuated from their homes. So, what is there to know about the man at the centre of it all?
Cape Town fires news and updates – what we know about the suspect so far…
Basic information
- – Age: 33 years old
- – Gender: Male
- – Status: In police custody after an arrest was made at 20:10 on Sunday
Police charges and possible court dates
The suspect who was apprehended last night is facing a count of arson. However, given the chain of events that have taken place since the blaze began, his rap sheet could be extended. Western Cape SAPS Spokesman Andre Traut has stated that the matter ‘will almost certainly go to court’ – and a hefty prison sentence is not out of the question
Cape Town fires: Arson suspect may not have acted alone…
SAPS believe there are three men involved in this blatant act of arson. Two were able to evade arrest on Sunday evening, but they are still wanted in connection with the raging inferno. A member of the local neighbourhood watch witnessed three suspects making a fire on the mountain, and alerted authorities
How was he caught?
God bless our community heroes. According to Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, the suspect had been caught by a local, who had tracked him down with the help of his kids and the family’s dogs.
What happened when he was arrested?
- Smith has also relayed the story of the suspect’s capture…
“I had two calls in rapid succession indicating that they had seen three individuals moving through the bush starting fires. When one of the officers arrived at the urban edge he found a man present at one of these fires. The officer then interrogated him and the guy said he was trying to stop the fire but then he also immediately said he started the main fire.
“When the officer asked him, he said ‘but I started the fire’, and the officer then asked him if he meant the original fire – so he may have started a fire that accidentally got out of his control from cooking or otherwise. This will now have to be a criminal investigation and there will be substantial consequences for him.” | JP Smith
Is it right to say the Cape Town fires suspect is a vagrant?
That’s the official line SANParks put out there on Sunday – citing that a ‘vacated vagrant fire’ caused the devastating blaze. It’s understood that the arsonist was living rough at the base of the mountain. JP Smith has also told CapeTalk on Monday that the man in custody told law enforcement officials he is ‘sleeping in the bushes’ near Devil’s Peak.
