Parliament fire accused charged with terrorism
The man accused of setting parliament on fire last week, Zandile Mafu ,appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate Court on Tuesday for a formal bail application.
Mafe is now being represented by Advocate Dali Mpofu as a lead representative in the case.
There is heavy police presence outside the court with protests in Mafe’s support being staged.
The court heard that Mafe has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, but Mpofu maintains his medical diagnosis is irrelevant to his bail application.
“We are here for one purpose and one purpose only - whether this man should remain in the police custody for the duration of a further period,” said Mpofu.
“He has now been here for about ten days…and that is purely a matter about the liberty of an individual. Whatever his health condition might be, he is still a human being.”
Mpofu maintains that Mafe should be released on bail prior to being sent for psychiatric evaluation.
On Tuesday, the state added a charge of terrorism to Mafe’s charge sheet, which is a schedule 6 offense.
He now faces six charges including housebreaking with the intention to steal, two counts of arson, possession of an explosive device, and destruction of essential infrastructure.
The state has brought an application to have Mafe referred for a 30-day psychiatric evaluation due to his medical diagnosis.
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