Pre-trial hearing Zandile Mafe, arrested for allegedly burning the National Assembly chambers in 2022 has been postponed to February after he failed to arrive at the Western Cape High Court on Friday.
Prosecutor Mervyn Menigo told the court that Mafe (50) who has been in police custody since his arrest in January last year, refused to leave his Pollsmoor Prison cell again.
This is not the first time Mafe has refused to attend a court session. In August and September, he refused to leave his cell claiming to be on a hunger strike.
Judge Nape Dolamo asked if it will be possible for the trial to be moved to the prison’s courtyard to which Mafe’s defense Advocate Luvuyo Godla said his client might still refuse to leave his cell as he did on Friday even after the head of the prison pleaded with him.
The court also turned down the defense’ s application for the trial to proceed without the accused being physically in court.
The defense also made a submission for the accused to be sent for another mental evaluation.
“I would humbly submit that it be attributed as well to the urgency of this matter that he must be referred to a psychologist again. I’ve communicated with him on several occasions,” said Godla.
At his last appearance, Mafe complained about how long his case was taking and maintained his innocence.
In October, Finance minister Enoch Godongwana announced that R2 billion had been allocated for the repair of the building.
This year will be the second time President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his State of the Nation Address SONA at the Cape Town City Hall chambers because of the burnt Parliament.
The 2022 SONA is expected to be delivered on 9 February.