Zandile Christmas Mafe, a suspect in connection to a fire at the South African Parliament, appears at the Magistrate Court in Cape Town on January 11, 2022. – He is suspected of starting a devastating fire that gutted South Africa’s parliament.
A blaze broke out in the Cape Town complex before dawn on January 2, 2022 spreading to the National Assembly, the roof of which collapsed. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP)
Zandile Christmas Mafe, a suspect in connection to a fire at the South African Parliament, appears at the Magistrate Court in Cape Town on January 11, 2022. – He is suspected of starting a devastating fire that gutted South Africa’s parliament.
A blaze broke out in the Cape Town complex before dawn on January 2, 2022 spreading to the National Assembly, the roof of which collapsed. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP)
Zandile Mafe is prepared to do whatever it takes to secure his freedom, after he told a court in Cape Town that’d he would start a hunger strike if he failed to secure bail on Tuesday. The shock admission was just one of several major developments this morning.
Zandile mafe in court – what has happened on Tuesday?
Not only did the Parliament fire suspect show up at court with a new lawyer in Dali Mpofu, but Mafe was also clean-shaven and fitted in a sharp suit – marking a stark contrast from his dishevelled appearance in the dock last week.
The state also confirmed that, in the past week, Zandile Mafe had a confirmed diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Mpofu and the defence wanted their client referred to a psychiatric unit, and sure enough, they got their wish…
Cape Town Magistrate’s Court rules that Zandile Mafe “be admitted to a mental institution for the purpose of observation”.
— Rasaad Adams ❁ (@RasaadAdams) January 11, 2022
Terror charges added to Parliament fire suspect’s list
Furthermore, a charge of terrorism was added to Mafe’s rap sheet – and as a Schedule 6 offence, this could make securing bail very difficult indeed.
The accused must prove and satisfy the regional court that “exceptional circumstances” exist to permit bail. The same ‘reverse onus’ is applicable to Schedule 5 offences, meaning it falls on Mafe and his team to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.
Why is Zandile Mafe plotting a hunger strike?
Mafe will now be held in police custody until a bed at a psychiatric facility becomes available. Court will resume on 11 February 2022.
Mpofu, who sincerely believes his client is being scapegoated by the state, revealed why Mafe was planning a hunger strike: The politically active defendant has highlighted that the government ‘does not want to feed him’ when he lives on the streets, and he’s concerned about their motivations now:
“He doesn’t understand why the state that never fed him when he was on the streets is now so keen to feed him. He believes he has been made a scapegoat. My client does not want to trade his liberty for food.”
Dali Mpofu, on behalf of Zandile Mafe
Defense in #ZandileMafe parliament arson case reports back to court that Mafe says he will embark on hunger strike if not granted bail today. This is after short adjournment to consult with him #sabcnews
— Thandiswa Mawu (@thandiswamawu8) January 11, 2022
