ZANDILE Christmas Mafe, accused of burning the parliament earlier in 2022, has rejected expert findings which suggested that he was unable to stand trial.
The expert report concluded that he did not appreciate his actions when committing the crimes he is accused of and that he wouldn't follow court proceedings and make a proper defence.
His matter was heard in Western Cape High Court on Friday, 1 September, but Mafe was not present.
Mafe's lawyer, Luvuyo Godla, indicated that his client wants to stand trial despite the findings.
Godla said Mafe is confident that he will stand trial and understand the proceedings.
"Mr Mafe is disputing the findings of the panel from Fort England Psychiatric Hospital, and he is disputing the findings of the recently appointed experts. Now, automatically, when it is so, what follows is that the court will wait for his evidence, not for purposes of determining his guilt but for purposes of assessing in terms of section 77 inquiry whether he will be able to proceed and understand the proceedings or not," said Godla.
Mafe was referred for 30 days of evaluation at Fort England Psychiatric Hospital in the Eastern Cape in March this year.
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When he returned, Judge Nathan Erasmus told the court that Mafe would be unable to follow court proceedings and make a proper defence, as he was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions.
Judge Erasmus didn't disclose the whole report.
Mafe's lawyers requested to approach their independent experts, who also concluded that Mafe was not fit to stand trial.
Mafe is expected to appear in court on 2 November to testify.
In his previous appearance in July, Mafe admitted that he set the parliament alight and promised to burn it again if rebuilt in Cape Town.
"I burnt it intentionally, me Zandile Christmas Mafe. I'm going to burn it more if it doesn't move to Bloemfontein or Pretoria," said Mafe.
Mafe faces charges of housebreaking with intent to commit arson and arson, terrorism, and theft after he burnt down parliament, destroying the Old and New Assembly Buildings of parliament between 1 and 2 January 2022.
