This archive report was first published on 4 January 2022.
January 4, 2022, marked a significant day in the investigation into the fire that ravaged South Africa's Parliament complex. Prosecutors in Cape Town charged a 49-year-old man, Zandile Christmas Mafe, with arson, theft, and housebreaking in connection with the blaze.
According to court documents, Mr. Mafe lives in Cape Town's Khayelitsha township. His lawyer, Luvuyo Godla, stated that his client plans to plead not guilty to the charges. Mr. Mafe remains in custody, and prosecutors have opposed bail, citing the severity of the charges.
Security officials arrested Mr. Mafe at the Parliament complex on Sunday morning, shortly after the fire was reported. He was found with stolen property, although the police did not provide further details.
Mr. Godla accused the government of using Mr. Mafe as a scapegoat for its failure to protect its own infrastructure. 'What interest would that poor man have in Parliament?' he asked reporters on the steps of the court.
The case was postponed until January 11 to allow investigators to access the site, which remains dangerous. Firefighters will continue to monitor the buildings, as the fire was only extinguished early on Tuesday, according to JP Smith, Cape Town's mayoral committee member for safety and security.
