Free State municipal official held for alleged arson

Bloemfontein - A 40-year-old employee of the Dihlabeng municipality will appear in the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on arson charges after a fire at the municipal buildings in the Free State town.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said workers saw flames coming from a manager’s office on Tuesday.

“Fortunately the fire department is based only 500 metres from the municipal offices and the fire could be extinguished quickly."

Municipal workers identified the suspect and he was arrested by traffic officials and municipal workers.

“When someone turns up for work, you don’t anticipate something like this from him,” Mophiring told News24.

The amount of damage caused and the motive for the arson could not yet be determined.