The Western Cape High Court ordered alleged Parliament arsonist Zandile Mafe to undergo 30 days of mental health observation at an Eastern Cape psychiatric hospital.
Mafe appeared in court on Tuesday.
Presiding over the case, Judge Nathan Erasmus referred Mafe
to the Fort England Psychiatric Hospital in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, this after Mafe
refused is going to a hospital outside the Western Cape because he refuses to
return to Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town.
Mafe is accused of arson, housebreaking with intent to
commit arson, terrorism and theft in connection with the Parliament fire in 2022.
Judge Erasmus ordered healthcare practitioners to determine
whether the accused had mental illness or intellectual disability at the time
of the alleged offence and whether he could understand court proceedings.
The Court said a psychiatric evaluation report must be made
available by 8 May. However, if more time is needed for the evaluation, an extension
may be granted, and his stay in the Eastern Cape may be prolonged.
If the psychiatric evaluations is completed before 8 May,
Mafe will return to Pollsmoor Prison until that date.
Mafe is back in court on that day for the continuation of
pre-trial proceedings.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in the
Western Cape, Eric Ntabazalila, confirmed Mafe would be transferred to Fort
England on Tuesday.
‘’His case has been been postponed until 8 May 2023, for
another pretrial.’’
Done By: Mitchum George
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