Zandile Christmas Mafe will flip 50 years previous in Pollsmoor Prison on 24 December 2022. He was remanded in custody at his third pre-trial convention within the Cape Town High Court on Friday, 4 November.
ZANDILE MAFE APPEARS IN HIGH COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME
Mafe graced the dock on the High Court for the primary time. The alleged parliament arsonist failed to seem on his earlier dates. He is accused of arson, burglary with the intent to commit arson, terrorism and theft.
In September, Mafe’s lawyer, Luvuyo Godla, stated he couldn’t say why his shopper refused to go away his Pollsmoor Prison cell however he revealed a variety of complaints Mafe had and recommended it may be the explanation for his absence.
Mafe’s look on Friday may have one thing to do with his newfound entry to a kettle and toiletries.
READ: Zandile Mafe no-show in court docket after requests for a kettle and TV had been denied
“We have resolved those issues. Mr Mafe has got the kettle, roll-on, and Vaseline. Remember the things he was complaining about,” Godla stated to reporters on the court docket steps. “He is now comfortable. No issue. We have seen him, he appeared today, very happy, satisfied, no issues at all.”
Advocate Nikiwe Nyathi, junior counsel to Dali Mpofu, advised the court docket that the defence isn’t prepared for trial. There have been issues with consulting with the accused.
“The number of documents that we have received on the flash disk requires a laptop and we have had issues with consulting with our client due to those constraints.
“We have been assured that we will be able to consult and we will be provided with premises we can enter with a laptop to do so,” she stated.
Judge Nape Dolamo requested the defence whether or not the defence isn’t prepared but “purely” due to time and facility constraints and Nyathi stated there had been different issues, together with the State’s request to have Mafe referred for a mental health analysis.
On behalf of the State, Advocate Mervyn Menigo stated Godla raised issues in regards to the accused’s mental health of their communications over the previous two days.
“My Lord, my communications with Mr Godla over the past two days, there were many concerns raised by the defence regarding the accused’s mental health,” he stated.
MENTAL HEALTH IN QUESTION
Mafe was referred to Valkenberg by the Magistrate’s Court for a mental health evaluation after he was preliminarily recognized with paranoid schizophrenia.
READ: Zandile Mafe made ‘confession’ after paranoid schizophrenia prognosis, court docket hears
This choice was later overturned by the Cape Town High Court as a result of the decrease court docket didn’t observe the right process. And thus, the query about Mafe’s frame of mind and his health to face trial has hung over all court docket proceedings on this matter.
The State tried to deliver up the problem throughout pre-trial proceedings within the High Court on 12 August however Judge Steyn dominated that the trial decide must resolve on the matter.
“It is the State’s intention to make available any doctor’s evidence to the defence should they wish to bring that application,” stated Menigo.
Menigo stated the defence requested for a postponement till 27 January 2023 to get themselves ready to correctly handle the problem round Mafe’s mental health. He added that the State wouldn’t object to the request.
Judge Dolamo granted the request and postponed the case to the talked about date. The defence is anticipated to provide a sign of their readiness for trial on the day. Mafe will stay in custody.
Outside court docket, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, stated, “Mr Godla, the lawyer, did point out to our counsel that there are mental challenges with the shopper.
“Now, it seems like we would be again to that software that was made on the decrease courts – for him to be despatched for statement.
“They say they are considering our application. When we come back… they will be able to tell the court on the day whether agrees to be referred for mental observation.”
Godla advised reporters that the defence consulted with Mafe for 2 days they usually really feel that they want extra time earlier than making a name in regards to the accused’s mental health.
“We need more time then upon interacting with him we will see if indeed it holds substance – the view that he be referred for mental assessment.
“Hence, we said in court we are open to that we will reconsider that but we need time to interact with him and see if he will be able to stand his trial,” stated Godla.
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