Bail Bid dismissed for Alleged Parliament Arsonist

The bail bid of alleged Parliament arsonist Zandile Mafe has been dismissed.

Mafe made another appearance in the Cape Town Regional Court on Friday morning.

Magistrate Michelle Adams said the defence failed to prove exceptional circumstances why he should be granted bail.

Mafe faces charges of housebreaking with the intent to commit arson and terrorism, theft, arson as well as a separate terrorism charge.

Mafe's defence team has insisted that he was innocent and was being used as a scapegoat.

The Cape Town Magistrate’s Court had referred him for psychiatric observation following his arrest.

His defence took issue with this and went to the Western Cape High Court, which ruled that the decision to have him admitted to the Valkenbeg Psychiatric Facility was unlawful.

Done by Lizeka Tsotetsi