S.African prosecutors charge parliament fire suspect with terrorism

FILE PHOTO: Firefighters work at the parliament as the fire flared up again, in Cape Town, South Africa, January 3, 2022. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham/File Photo

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The suspect in a fire that gutted parts of South Africa's 138-year-old parliament building this month was charged with terrorism on Tuesday, appearing in court for a case officials have described as an attack on the country's democracy.

Zandile Mafe, 49, had already been charged with arson in connection with the fire that started on Jan. 2, but the additional charge of terrorism was added because he had also been caught with an explosive device, the prosecution said.