CAPE TOWN (Reuters – South African Police said Monday that they have arrested a man charged with arson for setting ablaze the Cape Town National Parliament Building. The fire caused severe damage and firefighters were unable to contain the fire.

Early Sunday morning, the fire broke out in the Parliament complex. Some of it dates back to 1884. It also includes the National Assembly (or lower House of Parliament).

The roof of a portion of the building housing the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) collapsed on Sunday. It also gutted a whole floor. However, there was no report of anyone being injured in the incident.

According to the Hawks elite police unit, a suspect in the fire will be appearing in court on Tuesday.

Nomthandazo Mbambo, Hawks spokesperson said that the suspect was alleged to have gained entry through a window at one of the offices. He also stated that further investigations are ongoing into the ways the suspect managed to evade security personnel at the parliament.

Mbambo explained that “there is a possibility for other charges to be added because of a security violation here.”

‘STILL SMOULDERING’

Jean-Pierre Smith is a member of Cape Town’s mayoral committee responsible for security and safety. He said that firefighters are still dealing with hotspots at the National Assembly 4th Floor, which was still “smouldering” on Monday.

He stated that there were “lots” of books on the shelves and said the National Assembly’s interior had been extensively destroyed by heat, fire and smoke.

National Assembly’s New Wing is where the greatest damage was done by the fire. Officials from the Parliament said that Sunday’s fire was less severe in the Old Wing.