In the early hours of Sunday morning, a fire in St George’s Cathedral’s basement sparked.
The repercussions were a lot of smoke and some panic, but no injuries. The damage according to the cathedral dean, Father Michael Weeder, was minimal as per Daily Maverick.
Cape Town has been suspicious of the origins of some fires in recent times after the alleged attack on Parliament, and so a fire in an unassuming basement was speculated by some to be linked to another act of arson.
Peoples’ hunches were apparently right on the money. Weeder expressed that someone was seen running away from the cathedral at around 1 am Sunday morning according to security officers.
A lit piece of cotton or gauze was reportedly thrown through the small barred window near the steps leading up to the cathedral’s Wale Street entrance. This was toward the government precinct end.
According to Weeder, the situation has led to rife speculation in terms of attacks on government — especially with the State of the Nation Address (SONA) taking place on Thursday, February 10.
Said suspect is believed to be a 40-year-old male.
Police spokesperson Colonel André Traut said that the suspect was arrested on a charge of arson and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, February 9.
All eyes on SONA
SONA is a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, and one of the rare occasions that bring together the three arms of the State under onerous, says the government. However, if these fires have indicated anything toward civic unrest toward the government – SONA will sit with added layers of precaution.
If SONA is an opportunity for the government to ‘speak to the nation’, with these alleged cases of arson one can deduce that parts of the nation believe they have already sparked ‘conversation’ with the government in the form of unrest, at the unfortunate stake of historic landmarks, particularly Parliament.
Certain road closures can be anticipated and will be updated closure to SONA.
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