Last week Sunday, April 18, Frederick Mhangazo, a suspected arsonist, was apprehended in connection with the fire that is engulfed the foothills of Cape Town’s Table Mountain.

Charges of arson made against Mhangazo have since been dropped. The charge now stands as a by-law violation, reports News24.

According to EWN, it’s possible that the suspect, who moved to South Africa, has been living on the foothills of the mountain in a makeshift shelter for several years. Based on this, and the inability of the courts being able to verify the direction marker he gave, the court case held last week was postponed.

Since then, the 35-year-old  gained pro bono representation from lawyer Shaun Balram. It’s following this representation that the original arson charges were changed to alleged contravention of a by-law under the National Parks Act.

What does this mean? Mhangazo has dodged a 15-year bullet, if found guilty.

Read also:

Arsonist arrested in connection to Table Mountain fires – Reports

Picture: Unsplash

Shares: