Outstanding Reports Delays Zandile Christmas Mafe’s Case And Investigations Continue

Cape Town Magistrates’ Court postponed the case against alleged arsonist Zandile Christmas Mafe, for six weeks after the state requested to finalise outstanding investigations. Adv Mervyn Menigo told the court that several forensic reports were still outstanding. “Our investigation team is waiting for structural engineers to inform them if the New Assembly Building of Parliament is safe for them to move in and start their investigation. The team still needs to finalise Mafe’s cellphone analysis to determine whether there were more people involved. Certain leads have come up that need to be followed, a final detailed report on the video footage is still outstanding and analysis of his clothing still needs to be finalized to determine whether there were any accelerants. We are asking for an eight-week postponement to allow enough time for the investigation to be finalized,” he requested.

Mafe’s lawyer Adv Nikiwe Nyathi, objected and suggested three weeks for the investigation to be finalised. She also told the court that the defense still planned to appeal Mafe’s unsuccessful bail application at the High Court of South Africa: She advised the court that the defense was still waiting for the court record of the bail application. In his response, Adv Menigo pointed out that three weeks was wholly inadequate for the nature of outstanding investigations. The issue of the New assembly is out of our control as we are waiting for it to be declared safe for the investigation team to move in.

Magistrate Ronel Oliver agreed and postponed the case to 25 March 2022, for further investigations. Mafe is charged with housebreaking with intent to commit terrorism and arson, terrorism, arson and theft.

Issued by:

Eric Ntabazalila

National Prosecuting Authority

Regional Communications Manager

Western Cape

Tel: (021) 487 7308Mobile: 073 062 1222

Email: entabazalila@npa.gov.za