South African police have charged a man with arson over a fire that ravaged the national parliament building in Cape Town, as firefighters struggled to extinguish the last remains of the blaze.

       The fire broke out early on Sunday at the parliamentary complex, some of which dates back to 1884 and includes the National Assembly, or lower House of Parliament.

       It caused the collapse of the roof housing the upper chamber and gutted an entire floor, though there were no reports of anybody being hurt in the blaze.

       One government minister called the fire “a very sad day for democracy”.

       A 49-year-old suspect arrested in connection with the blaze is expected to appear in court on Tuesday and will face charges of housebreaking and theft as well as arson, an elite police unit known as the Hawks said in a statement.

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       “It is alleged that he gained entrance through the window in one of the offices,” Hawks spokesperson Nomthandazo Mbambo told eNCA television. “There is a possibility of other charges being added as there was a security breach here.”

       Jean-Pierre Smith, a Cape Town mayoral committee member responsible for safety and security, said firefighters were still dealing on Monday with “hotspots on the 4th floor of the National Assembly which is still smouldering”.

       “Lots of books and bookshelves (are) smouldering,” he said, adding that the interior of the National Assembly had been extensively destroyed by fire, water, heat and smoke.