NPR

Slick wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:38 am I saw reports on Twitter that a couple of people have been arrested for arson, is that true?

A suspect in his thirties has been arrested in connection with the fires raging on Table Mountain, mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith confirmed on Monday morning.

’’There is a lot of speculation currently about additional fires that were started, and whether the original fire was an act of arson. This will form part of investigations, but the City can confirm that one suspect in his thirties was taken into custody last night in the vicinity of Devil’s Peak,’’ Smith said in a statement on Monday morning.

Smith said the suspect had been spotted by a resident, who had tracked him down with the help of his sons and the family’s dogs. He added that the matter is with SAPS for investigation and further details will follow as they become available.

Insane_Homer wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:50 am

Slick wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:38 am I saw reports on Twitter that a couple of people have been arrested for arson, is that true?

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa ... 918e82be43

A suspect in his thirties has been arrested in connection with the fires raging on Table Mountain, mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith confirmed on Monday morning.

’’There is a lot of speculation currently about additional fires that were started, and whether the original fire was an act of arson. This will form part of investigations, but the City can confirm that one suspect in his thirties was taken into custody last night in the vicinity of Devil’s Peak,’’ Smith said in a statement on Monday morning.

Smith said the suspect had been spotted by a resident, who had tracked him down with the help of his sons and the family’s dogs. He added that the matter is with SAPS for investigation and further details will follow as they become available.

handyman wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:27 am Arsonists are scum and deserve severe penalties, if true.

Blake wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:16 am

Insane_Homer wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:50 am

Slick wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:38 am I saw reports on Twitter that a couple of people have been arrested for arson, is that true?

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa ... 918e82be43

A suspect in his thirties has been arrested in connection with the fires raging on Table Mountain, mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith confirmed on Monday morning.

’’There is a lot of speculation currently about additional fires that were started, and whether the original fire was an act of arson. This will form part of investigations, but the City can confirm that one suspect in his thirties was taken into custody last night in the vicinity of Devil’s Peak,’’ Smith said in a statement on Monday morning.

Smith said the suspect had been spotted by a resident, who had tracked him down with the help of his sons and the family’s dogs. He added that the matter is with SAPS for investigation and further details will follow as they become available.

Very early in the investigation and mixed reports.

The reality is that Covid has displaced a lot of people and there are small tent cities dotted all over Cape Town right now. They regularly get raided and dispersed by the police so vagrants end up living in the mountain.
Intentional arson is just as likely as a mountain vagrant's unattended campfire in high winds.

Time will tell.

FalseBayFC wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:49 am Quite a few inmates were released adding to the homeless situation. They hit our street every now and then leaving it knee deep in trash. After they've been there for a couple of days I find heroin syringes lying on the ground. We have one guy who breaks car windows if they've been left parked in the street. He's been spotted doing it and reported but SAPS do vokol about it.

Cape Town's homeless situation is pretty complex. Large scale immigration hasn't helped. In Wynberg Main Road there was a couple of huge high rise apartment buildings put in by developers. They were approved by the city on the grounds of providing affordable accommodation closer to the economic action. They are now filled to the brim with Nigerians and Congolese living 5-6 to a 1 or 2 bedroom unit. At the entrance on the street there are maybe 10 big guys who loiter on the pavement. They're there 24 hours a day. They sell heroin, cocaine and tik.

Now it's hard to talk about this openly in SA because of the Xenophobia issue. Sickening actually.

handyman wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:27 am Arsonists are scum and deserve severe penalties, if true.

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:28 pm Strange the only building on campus that burned down was the library. Which is no-where near the mountain side with several undamaged buildings between it and the fire. Smelly.......

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:28 pm Strange the only building on campus that burned down was the library. Which is no-where near the mountain side with several undamaged buildings between it and the fire. Smelly.......

Blake wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 7:09 am

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:28 pm Strange the only building on campus that burned down was the library. Which is no-where near the mountain side with several undamaged buildings between it and the fire. Smelly.......

There were multiple buildings at UCT that burnt, not just the library. I think the library just sustained the most damage. The high winds also blew embers over the M3 which is why the windmill burnt down.

I don't think there was foul play, despite what some EFF members were posting on Twitter.