Devil s Peak arson suspect expected back in court today It s understood that Frederick Mhangazo Mhangazo may have been living on the slopes of the mountain after moving to South Africa several years ago. Firefighting teams dampen smouldering vegetation, finally getting a fierce forest fire under control on the foothills of Table Mountain in Cape Town on 19 April 2021. Picture: Rodger Bosch/AFP
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CAPE TOWN - A man accused of starting a fire on the slopes of Devil s Peak is back in the dock on Wednesday.
Frederick Mhangazo (35) was apprehended on Sunday, 18 April, just hours after another wildfire ravaged several historic and academic buildings.
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Man accused of starting one of Table Mountain fires granted bail
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Cape Town - The man alleged to have started one of the mountain fires in Cape Town, which firefighters battled for more than three days, was granted bail in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The charge against Frederick Mhangazo, 35, was changed from arson to lighting or causing an open fire without proper authority.
If convicted, Mhangazo could be imprisoned for five years or be fined for his actions, or both if so ordered by the court.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, Mhangazo’s charge of arson was changed as he could not be linked to that crime. Ntabazalila confirmed that Mhangazo was granted bail of R500.
The executive director of UCT Libraries, Ujala Satgoor, said volunteers were still needed to help salvage and remove works in the Jagger Library in the wake of the recent fire that swept across Table Mountain.
The University of Cape Town’s Jagger Reading Room was left in ruins after a wildfire destroyed the facility. (Photo: Gallo Images / Die Burger / Jaco Marais)
“Volunteers are needed to help move vulnerable materials to a safer location. They can use this link to register and get more information in terms of dates that are available for shifts.
A firefighter walks through the destroyed nearly 200-year-old Jagger Reading Room. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Nic Bothma)
A total of 8 000 crates have been donated to UCT by Pick n Pay to assist in the salvaging and storing of academic material damaged at the African Studies Library.