Africa-Press – South-Africa. Parliament arson accused Zandile Mafe has refused to go to court for a third time.
He was supposed to appear in the Western Cape High Court on Friday morning for pre-trial arrangements.
“He didn’t even make it to the reception area in order to load him into the prison truck this morning (Friday),” prosecutor Mervyn Menigo said.
“Even the head of the prison tried to coax him to go to court.”
The case was ultimately postponed to 10 February for consultations and to ensure that his rights were not infringed upon.
There is also a possibility that he will be referred for a psychiatric assessment again.
Previously, he refused to leave the holding cells by lying on the floor.
The second time, he refused to leave his cell in Pollsmoor prison unless he was provided with a kettle and some comfort items.
At his last appearance, he complained bitterly about how long his case was taking.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly building remains in a terrible state.
In October, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that R2 billion had been allocated for the repair and refurbishment of Parliament over the next three years, but it remains cordoned off.
Mafe is charged with causing the catastrophic fire at Parliament on 2 January 2022, which the State regards as terrorism.
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