Parliament Fire: South Africa charges suspect with terrorism
Zandile Christmas Mafe, the suspect arrested for setting South African parliament ablaze is now facing terrorism charges following the emergence of new evidence.
Although no life was lost in the fire accident which occurred on January 2, troves of vital documents may have been damaged beyond recovery, with several computers and major parts of the parliament building destroyed by the fire.
Mr Mafe is now facing charges of fire, arson, breaking and entering, theft and the latest addition, terrorism.
The 49-year-old suspect was reportedly found with crockery, laptop, documents including an explosive device which formed the grounds for the terrorism charge.
Mr Mafe, determined to plead his case, has hired top notch lawyer, Dali Mpofu to represent him. Mr Mpofu was the legal counsel to erstwhile President Jacob Zuma currently in prison for contempt of court.
Mr Mpofu was hired after the suspect’s former lawyer denied all allegations levelled against his client.
The suspect deemed mentally unstable and diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia would remain in a psychiatric facility until his bail hearing, scheduled for February 11.
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