Parliament Arson Accused Zandile Mafe"s bail bid has been dismissed

Parliament arson-accused Zandile Mafe's bid to be released on bail has been dismissed in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).

Judge Tati Makgoka and Acting Judge Mahendra Chetty made the ruling.

In a brief notice, the SCA said there were no exceptional circumstances warranting his release on bail or a further appeal.

Mafe is expected back in court next month for pre-trial processes.

He was not in court for his last two scheduled appearances.

On the first occasion, Mafe refused to get up from the floor of the holding cells in the Western Cape High Court, and on the second occasion, he refused to leave his cell at Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town to be taken to court.

He demanded a kettle, a TV and coffee to make prison life more bearable.

Mafe also expressed disgust for the way poor people were treated and, at the time, wanted President Cyril Ramaphosa to cancel his State of the Nation Address. 

Done by Lizeka Tsotetsi