Judge Nathan Erasmus noted that a psychiatrist had found Mafe to be delusional and described his behaviour as ‘strange and inappropriate’
A psychiatric report however says Mafewas not aware of his conduct when he set the national assembly building alight
The bag suspected of containing a bomb belonged to a parliamentary staff member and was harmless
Zandile Christmas Mafe faces charges of setting parliament on fire on 2 January
An estimated R4-million has been budgeted for this year’s event, up sharply from R208 000 in 2021
Zandile Mafe’s referral for psychiatric observation has been set aside and Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe has ordered that he be released immediately to a correctional facility.
The presidency said the move required input from legal experts but analysts suggests it may in some way have been precipitated by the fire at parliament
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The president said slurs against the judiciary, sabotage against institutions and the findings of the Zondo commission showed the need to protect democracy
Eskom, parliament, constitutional court, looting could all be linked. ‘We smell a rat’, says Blade Nzimande
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Zandile Mafe appeared at the Cape Town magistrate court on Thursday morning before being taken in for observation.
Defence advocate Dali Mpofu SC argued it would be ‘abuse’ if Mafe were to be detained for months only to be found ‘sane’
Parliament yet to implement health and safety recommendations from 2018, union claims
Rumours abound about the quality of public works upkeep and the person arrested for arson
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Zandile Mafe took a nap outside parliament. Does that make him a
sleeper agent?
Hawks not ruling out the possibility of more suspects being arrested as the investigation continues
Fresh blaze erupts on roof of National Assembly
After firefighters battled for more than 24 hours to bring the devastating blaze under control, presiding officers were meeting on Monday to assess the damage