‘Hammer’ Man arrested for breaking into South Africa’s Constitutional Court

A few hours after a major fire in the South African parliament, there was another incident at one of the country’s democratic institutions on Wednesday.

According to the police, a 36-year-old man tried to break in through the windows of the Constitutional Court using a hammer. He ignored a warning shot fired by the police, but was eventually overpowered.

His motive was initially unclear. He is now to stand trial for damage to property.

In the meantime, a 49-year-old man has been brought before a magistrate in connection with the fire in the parliament buildings in Cape Town.

The public prosecutor’s office accuses him of illegally gaining access and setting fire to the building. Explosives were also found in his possession.

According to his lawyer, the man denies all charges. The three-part building complex was severely damaged, but the cause of the fire has yet to be established.

The fire occurred against the backdrop of political tensions between supporters of ex-president Jacob Zuma and his successor Cyril Ramaphosa.

Zuma is facing a commission of inquiry on corruption charges during his 2009-18 term in office. He was sentenced to several months in prison after he failed to comply with several summonses.

About 350 people were killed last year in riots following protests against his imprisonment.