Author Archives: Busisiwe Radebe

The defence in the case of Zandile Mafe, the man accused of setting Parliament alight, has argued in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court that the state has surprised them, with a medical report that his client was taken for mental observation.

Advocate Dali Mpofu for the defence says the office of the district surgeon has diagnosed Mafe with paranoid schizophrenia. The state also wants him committed to a mental institution for 30 days for observation.

Meanwhile, Mafe faces an additional charge of terrorism which is a schedule six offence. The other charges include arson, housebreaking, theft and the possession of explosives.

The bail hearing continues.

Zandile Mafe faces additional charge:

Support for Mafe

Meanwhile, a group of homeless people has gathered outside court in support of Mafe. Mafe’s supporters say it is not possible for him to have committed the crime. They believe he is being made a scapegoat.

Venetia Orgill says she knows Mafe as she feeds the homeless at the city centre.

“We are here to stand in solidarity with Zandile Christmas Mafe because we believe he’s innocent. There is no way he could have done to Parliament what they blamed him for. It is not him. It is not him,” Orgill adds.

One of the supporters speaks to SABC News:

Gauteng Police stopped a bakkie with 14 illegal immigrants, mostly women, from Zimbabwe to Gauteng. The illegal immigrants alleged that they each paid the driver R1500 to transport them to Johannesburg.

The driver was also arrested for bribery after he offered the law enforcement certain amount for them to be allowed to go through Operation O Kae Molao.

#sapsGP 14 illegal immigrants traveling from Zimbabwe to Gauteng were arrested by Gauteng police during operation #OkaeMolao. The driver was also arrested for bribery after he offered law enforcement officials an amount of money for them to be allowed to go through. ML pic.twitter.com/2Rlpsqg61e

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) January 7, 2022

Last week, Border Control Management in Mpumalanga intercepted 7 000 illegal immigrants trying to cross into South Africa from Mozambique since the start of the festive season.

Home Affairs Minister Dr. Motsoaledi on border security and tackling illegal immigrants:

Engineers have recommended that the New National Assembly Building at Parliament is unsafe, should be cordoned off and closed with immediate effect to restrict access. This is contained in an updated statement by Public Works Minister Patricia De Lille following a preliminary report into the fire.

In statement De Lille says on the basis of the preliminary visual inspections, there is evidence of severe structural damage to the slabs of the National Assembly Building. She says the slabs affected by the damage are the second, third and fourth floors.

De Lille says the internal professional team recommended that the New National Assembly Building is unsafe, should be cordoned off and closed with immediate effect in order to restrict access. The Old Assembly Chamber has already been closed and declared unsafe earlier this week.

Sprinkler valve not serviced

Earlier on Friday the City of Cape Town released various reports on the fire that engulfed the National Assembly and Old Assembly Buildings.

In the report Fire Station Commander JJ Williams says it is not an official fire report but has been released for information purposes.

Williams says it provides the observations of City fire safety officers who worked on the scene.

The Station Commander says when he walked around the affected areas he found that the National Assembly sprinkler valve was not serviced.

This he says was last serviced in 2017 while it has to be done every three years.

He says if it was properly serviced the valve should have been locked with a chain in an open position and a block plan would have been available showing system layout.

According to the report lifts continued to operate despite a “break glass” unit at one lift being activated. It says fire doors were locked in an open position using latches And roof smoke vents did activate at the National Assembly.

SABC News Reporter Lulama Matya gives the latest update on developments from Parliament: