The Western Cape High Court has maintained an earlier finding and ruled that alleged parliament arsonist Zandile Mafe is not fit to stand trial.
The 51-year-old faces charges of arson and terrorism for allegedly setting alight the National Assembly building in January 2022.
Earlier in 2023, Mafe was directed for a psychiatric appraisal at the Fort England Psychiatric Hospital in Eastern Cape after he refused to be admitted to Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town.
The long-awaited medical report on Mafe’s state of sanity, resulting from an independent psychiatric assessment requested by his defence counsel, was tabled in August.
The report concluded that Mafe is not fit to stand trial.
Delivering his judgment on the matter on Monday, judge Nathan Erasmus found that the report complied with the Criminal Procedure Act.
He said Mafe was diagnosed with a disorder likely to be schizophrenia, explaining that the report notes that he was “delusional” and that his behaviour was not appropriate.
After hearing arguments from both the state and the defence, Erasmus stated that he would rely on the report and that Mafe is not capable of comprehending court processes.
He said: “Mr Mafe is not capable of understanding the proceedings so as to make a proper defence, and therefore my finding is in concurrence with the experts [that] he is unfit to stand trial.”
Mafe’s confession
In a dramatic turn of events at the same court in July, Mafe went on a rant and admitted to burning down the National Assembly chambers.
At the time, Mafe expressed frustration with the state of service delivery and loadshedding that continues to grip the country.
He also claimed responsibility for burning the National Assembly chambers and threatened to orchestrate more acts of arson if parliament did not relocate.
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“I burnt it intentionally, me Christmas Zandile Mafe. I am going to arrange more [attacks] if it [parliament] does not move to Bloemfontein or Pretoria,” he lashed out.
“The service-delivery protests which are occurring outside are about my release. Last year, service delivery protests occurred 5 000 times and most of them were violent service delivery [protests].
“Loadshedding occurred 2 900 hours last year, loadshedding occurred 207 days last year. Loadshedding occurred 177 times, I want this parliament to the majority of the people.”
