Outstanding reports delay Parliament arsonist case
The Cape Town Magistrates’ Court postponed the case against
alleged arsonist Zandile Mafe for six weeks to allow the state to finalise
outstanding investigations.
Mafe appeared in court on Friday.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, state prosecutor Advocate Mervyn Menigo told the court that several forensic reports were still outstanding.
“Our investigation team is waiting for structural engineers to inform them if the New Assembly Building of Parliament is safe for them to move in and start their investigation.
“Certain leads have come up that need to be followed, a final detailed report on the video footage is still outstanding and analysis of his clothing still needs to be finalised to determine whether there were any accelerants.”
Ntabazalila says the team still needs to finalise Mafe’s cellphone analysis to determine whether there were more people involved.
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He adds Mafe’s advocate, Nikiwe Nyathi, objected and suggested three weeks for the investigation to be finalised.
“She also told the court that the defense still planned to appeal Mafe’s unsuccessful bail application at the High Court of South Africa: Western Cape Division and advised the court that the defense was still waiting for the court record of the bail application.”
In the end, Magistrate Ronel Oliver postponed the case to 25 March for further investigations.
Mafe is charged with housebreaking with intent to commit terrorism and arson, terrorism, arson and theft.
