By: Natasha Archary
Arson accused, Zandile Mafe admitted in the Western Cape High Court on Thursday, 13 July, that he burnt down Parliament during an outburst which resulted in court proceedings being temporarily halted.
Mafe unleashed a slur of profanities in the courtroom before he declared that he was indeed the man behind the brazen act of terrorism.
On 02 January 2022, a fire broke out in Parliament, which raged for at least 3-days, causing an estimated R1 billion in damages to both the Old Assembly and the National Assembly buildings of Parliament.
Mafe, who was homeless at the time of the incident was arrested, and has been on trial facing a schedule 6 charge for terrorism.
Additionally, he has also been charged with two counts of arson, possession of an explosive device and the destruction of essential infrastructure.
In March, Mafe underwent a 30-day mental health evaluation at an Eastern Cape psychiatric hospital, to determine whether he had an existing mental illness or intellectual disability when the fire he allegedly started broke out.
Taking to the stand on Thursday, Mafe said he burned down Parliament intentionally, as he wanted to move Parliament from “white racists within the DA.”
Mafe, during his outburst said he wanted a life sentence of 25-years from now until 2043.
“I burnt it intentionally. I wanted to move the Parliament from the white racists, from the DA. The DA are murderers, they are killers. They are racist and they kill black people.
Helen Zille is a miesie (small girl), who is racist. All black people must never vote for the DA.
I want a life sentence of 25 years from now, 2023, until after 2043. I’m not afraid of a life sentence.”
Zandile Mafe admitted to burning down Parliament during an outburst at the Western Cape High Court
Mafe was remanded in the hospital section of Pollsmoor Prison for several weeks before his court appearance.
Also read: Father and two children die in Mamelodi shack fire
