Zandile Christmas Mafe, 50, appeared in the Western Cape High Court where it was made known where he will be admitted to a psychiatric facility in the Eastern Cape after he declined to be sent to the Valkenberg Hospital in Cape Town for mental observation.

Mafe has been in detention since 2 January 2022 after a fire destroyed the National Assembly building in Cape Town. He is accused of housebreaking with the intent to conduct terrorism, arson, terrorism, and theft.

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The defence team of Mafe has argued that the state has surprised them with a medical report indicating their client was taken for mental observation.

According to the Western Cape spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Eric Ntabazalila, Mafe will be transferred on Tuesday.

“Mafe is going to be transferred to Fort England Psychiatric Hospital in Makhanda, previously known as Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape,” Ntabazalila said.

He will be assessed by two psychiatrists and two psychologists who are ordered to establish whether he suffered from a mental illness or intellectual disability at the time of the fire.

He will also be assessed for his capacity to stand trial for terrorism and arson.

The matter has been plagued by delays and postponements since his arrest.

Judge Nathan Erasmus ordered that a report be delivered before 8 May and the case was postponed until then.

OFM News