MAFE REMANDED IN THE HOSPITAL SECTION OF POLLSMOOR PRISON FOLLOWING A MENTAL EVALUATION
Terrorism and arson accused, Zandile Christmas Mafe, has been remanded in the hospital section of Pollsmoor Prison, following his first appearance at the High Court of South Africa: Western Cape Division after undergoing mental evaluation at Fort England Psychiatric Hospital, Eastern Cape.
On 28 March 2023, the court transferred and ordered that Mafe be detained at the hospital to undergo a 30-day mental evaluation. Judge Nathan Erasmus, ordered psychiatrists at the hospital to enquire whether the accused, because of mental illness and or intellectual disability is capable of understanding the court proceedings, to make a proper defence, whether, at the time of the commission of the offence, he appreciated the wrongfulness of the act in question and whether his appreciation of the wrongfulness of his act at the time was affected by mental illness or intellectual disability or any other cause.
Today, Judge Erasmus informed the court that he received an electronic report from the panel of experts on 24 May 2023 and shared it with the parties. He ordered, after the state and defence agreed, that the contents of the report not be disclosed at this stage, as the defence needs to consult with their client.
Adv. Dali Mpofu SC earlier told the court that they need to consult their client and may even call their experts if they dispute the report. He, therefore, asked for a postponement to consult their client.
Adv Mervyn Menigo told the court that the state does not dispute the report and supported the request for postponement as it was in the interest of justice to do so.
The state charges Mafe with housebreaking with intent to commit arson and arson, terrorism, and theft after he burnt down Parliament, destroying the Old and New Assembly Building of Parliament, between 01 and 02 January 2022.
On three occasions, Mafe has refused to attend court either demanding to be provided with a kettle and flat-screen tv or claiming that he is on hunger strike or bluntly refusing to leave his prison cell.
Mafe`s case has been postponed to 13 July 2023, for the defence to consult.
