Staff Reporter.
Alleged Parliament arsonist Zandile Christmas Mafe is set to undergo another round of psychiatric evaluation in order to determine whether he is fit to stand trial.
After refusing to appear in court on three occasions, 50-year-old Mafe on Friday appeared before the Western Cape High Court for his pre-trial hearing.
He agreed to be referred for mental health evaluation but refused to be admitted to the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital.
Mafe’s lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu, said the parties will over the next two weeks assess which other medical facility can be used for Mafe’s psychiatric evaluation.
“Our view still remains that there is nothing wrong with him, but you know neither I, nor Mr Menigo is a psychiatrist. So at the very least, that question will be answered by the people qualified to do so.”
An independent psychiatrist will also be appointed over and above the State to assess Mafe.
Mafe is currently patient number 112th on the waiting list for a bed at Valkenberg Hospital and this meant that he would need to wait 10 months before he is admitted.
The pre-trial hearing is postponed to 24 January 2023.
Mafe has been in custody since January 2022 when he was arrested in connection with the Parliament fire on 2 January 2022, which destroyed the Old and New Assembly buildings.
He faces charges of terrorism, arson, theft and housebreaking with intent to steal, among others.