South Africa
Alleged Parliament arsonist appears in court─── 12:23 Tue, 04 Jan 2022
A Khayelitsha man made his first appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate's court in connection with a devastating fire which destroyed large parts of the Parliamentary precinct on Sunday, including the Old Assembly and New National Assembly buildings.
49-year-old Zandile Christmas Mafe appeared this morning in a court-room
jam-packed with police officers and members of the media.
When he was led up from the holdings cells below, he was greeted by the whirr of camera drives, to the point where he removed his mask and slowly turned full circle so that everyone could get a proper look at his face.
National Prosecuting Authority Spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila told the media outside court that Mafe faces several charges.
He will remain in custody until his next appearance on the 11th of January.
