Charges dropped against foreign national for Cape town fires

 The charge of arson against a foreign national, arrested in connection with the Cape Town fires, at the slopes of Devils Peak, last week, has been dropped

Instead, he is now facing a lesser charge of contravening the National Environmental Management Act for living in the Table Mountain National Park.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed the charge of arson had been changed for 35 year old Fredrick Mhangazo. The man from Tanzania was said to have been homeless at the time of his arrest, on Wednesday afternoon the Cape Town Magistrate's Court released him on R500 bail.

Previously police spokesperson Andrè Traut confirmed his arrest on Sunday night at around 8.10pm in Philip Kgosana Drive, by law enforcement officers, and charged with arson.

Six University of Cape Town (UCT) buildings sustained significant structural damage and a number of other buildings and facilities sustained minor damages. The case has been postponed to 18 June for further investigation and for witness statements to be obtained. 


By Everngelista Muza

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