Mayoral member for safety and security in the City, JP Smith, says law enforcement was alerted to the suspect by multiple witnesses living in the area.

The witnesses said they had seen three men moving through the bushes and starting fires.

“We got our traffic law enforcement, metro police services, and neighbourhood watch and they all went out there.

"They were very soon able to identify a man who was found right next to the fire and he was found just next to the scene. The 30-something male was handed over to the law enforcement which arrived on the scene.

“He has been taken into custody, he is arrested at SAPS. A case has been opened of arson and in his conversation, he admitted he had started the fire.”

The fires ravaged through the City of Cape Town on Sunday, causing damage to buildings, including the University of Cape Town.

The city will soon do a full assessment of the damage.

Thus far, two City firefighters have been injured while no fatalities have been reported. 

Jacaranda FM