Firefighters work at the national parliament as the fire flared up again, in Cape Town, South Africa, January 3, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
Firefighters work at the national parliament as the fire flared up again, in Cape Town, South Africa, January 3, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

Home » Parliament Fire Suspect Zandile Mafe is Denied Bail

Parliament Fire Suspect Zandile Mafe is Denied Bail

(Reuters) – A South African court on Friday denied bail to a man charged with crimes including arson over the devastating fire at the national parliament in Cape Town in January, local media reported. Zandile Mafe denied the charges against him. Officials have described the fire, which severely damaged parts of the parliament precinct, as […]

By SAPeople
04-02-22 14:22
in Featured
Firefighters work at the national parliament as the fire flared up again, in Cape Town, South Africa, January 3, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
Firefighters work at the national parliament as the fire flared up again, in Cape Town, South Africa, January 3, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

(Reuters) – A South African court on Friday denied bail to a man charged with crimes including arson over the devastating fire at the national parliament in Cape Town in January, local media reported.

Zandile Mafe denied the charges against him.

Parliament Fire Suspect Zandile Mafe Charged with Terrorism and Referred to Mental Institution
Parliament Fire Suspect Zandile Mafe has been denied bail. Photo: Reuters keyframe

Officials have described the fire, which severely damaged parts of the parliament precinct, as an attack on South African democracy.

Parts of the parliament complex date back to the 1880s.

Mafe “did not satisfy the court that exceptional circumstances exist which in the interests of justice permit his release”, the court in Cape Town ruled, according to a video posted by a TimesLIVE reporter on Twitter.

Eyewitness News reported that Mafe would appeal Friday’s judgment.

(Writing by Alexander Winning, editing by Mark Heinrich)