News — cape town

One person has been arrested in connection with a fire that has destroyed scores of historic buildings in Cape Town. A wildfire on the slopes of South Africa’s Table Mountain National Park on Sunday spread to the nearby University of Cape Town campus, burning the school’s historic library and prompting the speedy evacuation of staff and students. The Rhodes Memorial Restaurant was also destroyed.

The fire erupted Sunday morning near a memorial to politician Cecil Rhodes. Firefighters were alerted at 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT) and have been battling through the night to bring the fire under control. More than 120 firefighters have been deployed to the area. One has since been sent to a hospital for treatment with burn wounds. Helicopters also dumped water on the area to contain the blaze.

Authorities said the flames spread quickly due to the low humidity and dry bush. According to South African National Parks, the fire “created its own wind further increasing the rate of spread.” It said firefighters would need at least three days to fight the blaze. “After the initial investigation, it is surmised that the origin of the fire is from a vacated vagrant fire,” it said. “Due to the extreme Fire Danger Index for today, which is Red with temperatures of 36 degrees noted and an extremely low relative humidity of under 10%, the fire spread rapidly in the direction of Rhodes Memorial,” it explained.

Local media say the police are now investigating what could be a deliberate case of arson following the arrest of the suspect.

Sunday’s fire did not only partially destroy the University of Cape Town’s Jagger Library, but it also damaged the Mostert’s Mill, South Africa’s oldest surviving windmill which was built in the 18th century.

Hikers in the Table Mountain National Park have since been asked to leave while residents have been told to keep doors and windows closed. As of Monday morning, the fire has spread towards the direction of Vredehoek, where residents have been evacuated.

Table Mountain, which overlooks the whole of Cape Town and the surrounding area, is a protected conservation area. Home to 8,200 plant species, it is one of South Africa’s most iconic tourist attractions.

City of Cape Town told to return confiscated materials

The City of Cape Town's Anti-Land Invasion Unit (ALIU) will not be allowed to evict people or demolish their structures, whether occupied or unoccupied, without a court order while the country remains in a state of national disaster.

Judges Shehnaz Meer and Rosheni Allie in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday afternoon granted an interim relief stating that the City must have a court order to evict anyone or demolish a home.

The case was brought by the SA Human Rights Commission following a string of demolitions and evictions by the City of Cape Town in recently-occupied informal settlements. The removal of Bulelani Qolani from his shack by City officers while naked was widely covered in the media. Other respondents listed in the case included the Ministers of Human Settlements, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and Police, and SAPS national commissioner.

Judges Meer and Allie also ordered that in cases where a court order is obtained for an eviction or demolition, the City must execute the order in a lawful and respectful manner that "upholds the dignity of the evicted persons". They said the City is "expressly prohibited from using excessive force" and may not destroy or confiscate material belonging to those evicted.

The court has given the City a week to return "all building material and personal possessions" taken by the ALIU since 1 May and ordered that it pay R2,000 to the parties cited by the Economic Freedom Fighters in its submissions to the court.

The City was further interdicted from "considering, adjudicating and awarding" bids and tenders related to demolition services for the ALIU.

The court also instructed SAPS members present at a court-sanctioned demolition or eviction to ensure that the actions are being lawfully executed and to "protect the dignity of the persons evicted".

Costs of the application will be shouldered by the City of Cape Town, except for the costs of the hearing of 25 July.

The City is yet to respond to our request for comment on the ruling today.

In October, hearings will be held to determine whether or not the municipality has the authority to execute demolitions or evictions without a court order after the end of the state of national disaster.