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.
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