Alleged parliament arsonist to be removed from mental hospital immediately

Zandile chrismas Mafe was admitted to the facility last Thursday after a district surgeon diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia and recommended that he be admitted for a 30-day mental assessment.

This comes after the 49-year-old man was accused of setting Parliament alight earlier this year and faces a slew of charges, including that of arson and terrorism.

However on Tuesday his lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu, questioned how the State could charge him with terrorism and at the same time question his state of mental health.

In their appeal case Judge President John Hlophe ruled Mafe should be released from the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital first thing on Wednesday this morning. His bail hearing will be heard at the Cape Town Regional Court on Saturday subject to further consultation between the parties.

by Everngelista Muza