Court to hear if Zandile Mafe is fit to stand trial 

Alleged parliament arsonist Zandile Mafe is expected to return to the Cape Town High Court on Thursday, 8 June, after undergoing a mental health evaluation in the Eastern Cape. 

READ: Parliament fire: More time needed to assess Zandile Mafe’s mental health

ZANDILE MAFE RETURNS TO COURT

On 28 March, Mafe was referred to the Fort England Hospital in Makhanda to determine whether he had mental illness or intellectual disability at the time of the alleged offence and whether he could understand court proceedings.

Mafe is charged with arson, housebreaking with intent to commit arson, terrorism and theft in connection with the Parliament fire. 

READ: Zandile Mafe adamant he will not return to Valkenberg for mental health check

Initially, he was due back before Judge Nathan Erasmus a month ago. However, the matter was postponed in his absence because the hospital needed more time to complete the assessment. 

The extended Fort England stint is Mafe’s second time being referred to a State psychiatric hospital. 

Soon after his arrest, he was sent to Valkenberg in Cape Town after being preliminarily diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia by a district surgeon, Dr Zelda van Tonder. 

READ: Zandile Mafe made ‘confession’ after paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis, court hears

The Cape Town High Court set aside the referral and ordered Mafe’s release, and return to prison, because the Magistrate’s Court failed to follow the correct procedure. 

Throughout proceedings, Mafe’s legal counsel, led by Advocate Dali Mpofu, insisted that there was nothing wrong with his mental health. 

However, in late 2022, there was a change of tune when Mpofu’s junior counsel, Nikiwe Nyathi, and lawyer Luvuyo Godla said there may be issues with their client. In February, Mpofu said the defence’s position is that Mafe is fit to stand trial, but a psychiatrist needs to make that call.

READ: Zandile Mafe’s defence concedes there may be issues with his mental health

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY STORM SIMPSON