The man accused of starting the fire that gutted Parliament, Zandile Christmas Mafe, is scheduled to receive a second periodical assessment in September.

This is according to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI) when it briefed the Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament on Friday on the status of its investigation.

Brigadier Mushavhaduvha Ramovha said Mafe continued to be a state patient at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital, where he receives treatment.

Mafe was admitted to the hospital in February 2024 for a psychiatric evaluation after the Western Cape High Court declared he was unfit to stand trial in December 2023.

Ramovha said the first evaluation on Mafe was conducted in September 2024, following his admission in February 2024.

He also said his diagnosis at this stage included severe Schizophrenia with early remission.

“Mr Mafe is scheduled to receive the second periodical assessment in September 2025 again. The Director of Public Prosecutions advised that Mr Mafe’s progress be monitored to establish whether he will be able and willing to cooperate with the investigation when he is well enough to do so,” Ramovha said.

Mafe was arrested by the police on January 2, 2022, and charged with housebreaking, theft, and arson following the fire incident while busy climbing through a window from inside the Old Assembly.

He allegedly confessed to starting the fire to the investigating officer and demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa resign, assassin Janusz Waluz be released, and a R1,500 grant be paid to unemployed people.

After the case was referred to the DPCI for investigation, the National Director of Public Prosecutions had authorised the prosecution of Mafe under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act.

During the meeting, MPs wanted to know the status of the investigation and whether it had been widened.

DA MP Frederik Jacobus Badenhorst wanted to know why the case was referred to the DPCI, considering it dealt with serious cases of corruption, organised crime, and commercial crimes, among others.

ANC MP Bheki Radebe said the issue of focusing only on Mafe was misdirected.

“When Parliament was burnt down, it was during the period when the Zondo Commission was to present its report and when there were riots in 2021,” Radebe said.

He also said there was no way he was acting alone in light of the demands Mafe made.

“We know very well even people used to commit these heinous crimes can be pumped with drugs so that by the time they appear in court, they appear as if they are deranged,” he said, before asking if the investigation had been widened beyond Mafe.

DPCI’s acting head, Lieutenant-General Siphesihle Nkosi, explained that the case was referred to the DPCI because it was a national priority offence, which included a crime against the state

“If there is an attack or commission of a crime related to Parliament, it is a matter classified as a national priority offence,” he said.

Nkosi confirmed that their investigation had focused on Mafe but that they obtained several statements and interviewed several individuals suspected of the fire incident.

He indicated that they obtained 56 affidavits, including from their forensic digital forensic investigation team that worked on Mafe’s phone.

“Contact numbers of individuals found in the gadget were approached and interviewed to get an understanding of how they are linked to Mr Mafe.”

In its report to the committee, the DPCI stated that the Director of Public Prosecutions had requested that further statements be obtained from two potential witnesses who allegedly had telephonic communication with Mafe before the fire incident.

“The required statements were obtained and presented to the Director of Public Prosecutions on 3 February 2025 for consideration; however, they did not present any new leads for further investigation.”

Nkosi said that in the event they establish new leads or obtain new information to be actioned, they will follow the leads.

“The investigation is conducted in collaboration with all critical stakeholders. The information made available to us will be shared with Crime Intelligence to ask them to enhance that information in ensuring we leave no stone unturned in this matter. As of now, the matter is waiting for the report that will come whether the individual is fit to stand trial,” Nkosi added.

He clarified that the current information at their disposal did not add any other individual, but emphasised that the search for the truth never ends.

”Should there be information that gets to our attention, we obviously will follow that,” Nkosi said.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

Source link