In a court ruling on Monday, it was determined that Zandile Mafe, accused of setting fire to the South African parliament in 2022, is unfit to stand trial due to schizophrenia.
Zandile Mafe, aged 50, was apprehended while firefighters were combating the destructive inferno on January 2 last year. He had previously pleaded not guilty to charges of terrorism, theft, and arson in court appearances characterized by disruptive outbursts.
Zandile Mafe “is unable to stand his trial because of mental illness” Judge Nathan Erasmus told the court on Monday.
The conflagration ravaged the wood-paneled national assembly chamber, taking firefighters over two days to fully extinguish. Initial assessments indicated that the sprinkler system had failed.
The estimated cost for repairs stands at two billion rand ($105 million), with the restoration work expected to span at least three years.
Acknowledging Zandile Mafe’s diagnosis of “paranoid schizophrenia,” defense lawyer Dali Mpofu stated in court this year that his client had undergone psychiatric evaluation after declining admission to a hospital. Mafe will remain in the hospital wing of a prison pending a decision regarding his future.
In a court appearance in July, Mafe verbally asserted responsibility for intentionally burning down parliament and launched verbal attacks against the main opposition Democratic Alliance party, labeling them “racist” and calling for the departure of white individuals from the country.
Mpofu criticized the recent ruling in court, asserting that it seeks to try Mafe without his involvement, emphasizing his duty to safeguard Mafe’s interests.
Throughout the proceedings, Mafe, clad in a black blazer, shook his head as the judge delivered the ruling.
Mpofu indicated plans to appeal the court’s decision, emphasizing that “all this exhibitionism” regarding Mafe’s alleged actions does not serve his client’s best interests.
