Zandile Mafe, the prime suspect in the fire that gutted part of the South African parliament building recently, has denied and rejected the arson charges leveled against him.
It was alleged that he scaled a fence, got into the building through a rear window, before lifting things from the building and setting fire to it.
Zandile Mafe, 48, appeared in a Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Tuesday, represented by Luvuyo Godla, who insisted that Mafe is pleading not guilty.
Eric Ntabazalila, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, noted that state prosecutors needed to confirm a few things, including the suspect’s residential address, before they can proceed with the case.
The presiding magistrate Zamekile Mbalo deferred hearing on the case to allow room for further investigations.
The parliament building is one of the significant monuments in South Africa’s political history. The fire incident sho ked many at the time, especially because the building had measures in place to contain a possible fire outbreak.
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa had visited the parliament but was not allowed to get close because of security concerns.
It remains to be seen what the court’s verdict will be regarding the case. You may want to follow our social media channels and stay tuned for updates
