Case against alleged Parliament arsonist, Zandile Mafe, postponed yet again

The case against alleged Parliament arsonist, Zandile Mafe, has been postponed yet again.

Mafe appeared in the Western Cape High Court on Friday, for his fifth pre-trial conference. The accused has only appeared in one of his four appearances, excluding Friday.

Mafe again refused to appear in court until he was given something to eat.

At the last court appearance, the State and Defence agreed that Mafe should be referred for another mental health evaluation at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital

Advocate Dali Mpofu said that Mafe insists that he does not want to return to Valkenberg for this referral because he contracted COVID-19 during his first referral in 2021. The accused also claims he was mistreated.

The defence suggested other psychiatric facilities in Cape Town, including Lentegeur and Stikland. The State said those facilities are more for rehabilitating patients and feel that Valkenberg remains the best option.

There’s a long waiting list at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital with 111 patients awaiting, meaning that Mafe would need to wait 10 months before he is admitted.

Judge Erasmus postponed the matter to 24 February.

Some of the options the parties will explore during the two week break, includes sending Mafe to an alternative hospital, which does not necessarily have to be in the province and fast-tracking his admittance to Valkenberg again.