The South African National Assembly building has been gutted by a devastating fire.
According to the AFP news agency, the fire that broke out in the Houses of Parliament in Cape Town on Sunday has not been extinguished yet.A spokesman for parliament, Moloto Muthappo, said "the house where the members of parliament are sitting is completely burnt down, but firestorms are still raging."
No casualties have been reported so far, but President Sirleaf Ramaphosa told reporters that a man had been arrested on the spot.
An investigation into the blaze, which began at 3 a.m. World Standard Time, has been launched.
The fire broke out in the oldest part of the parliament building, the rooms of which were mostly made of wood. The building was completed in 1884.
"The roof of the old assembly has collapsed and is completely destroyed," said Jane Perry Smith, a member of Cape Town's mayor's committee on safety and security.
In addition to the rare collection of books in this historic building, a copy of the African national anthem "Dai Stem Van Sweden Africa" has also been damaged.
"Firefighters are constantly working," parliamentary spokesman Muthappo told an online news conference.
Parliament buildings are still shrouded in black smoke.
"It will take hours to put out the fire."
A team of firefighters was the first to arrive at the scene to put out the blaze, which lasted for several hours. However, the fire was not contained and the team was called back and new teams were sent. ۔
"It will still take hours to put out the fire."
Seventy firefighters were later deployed to put out the blaze, some using cranes to pour water on the fire.
Former Cape Town mayor and current minister Patricia de Laila warned that it would still take hours to put out the blaze.
Emergency services say there is a risk that the fire will spread quickly to older rooms as they are decorated with wood, thick carpet and curtains.
The area around the fire was soon cordoned off.
This is not the first case of arson
Both houses of the South African Parliament have been in Cape Town since 1910 when various administrations formed a union under British rule and this union proved to be the forerunner of modern South Africa.
Parliament consists of the National Assembly and the upper house, the National Council of Provinces. The center of government is Pretoria.
In the same parliament, FWD Clarke, President of South Africa's last racist government, announced plans to overthrow the racist government in 1990.
The House of Parliament consists of three sections, the new parts of which were constructed in the 1920s and 1980s.
A fire broke out in the old part of parliament in March last year but was quickly contained.
