Jacaranda FM
Western Cape judge president, John Hlope, has overturned an order referring Zandile Mafe to Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital for 30 days of mental observation.
Forty-nine-year-old Mafe was arrested in connection with the fire which devastated the Parliament building earlier this month, causing extensive damage to the National Assembly.
He faces several charges including two counts of arson, theft, housebreaking with the intent to steal and contravention of the explosives act and destruction of essential infrastructure.
A charge of terrorism, which is a scheduled 6 offence, has also been added to his charge sheet.
In his ruling, Judge Hlope, sitting with an assessor, ordered that Mafe be released “immediately” from Valkenberg Hospital and moved to a Correctional Centre pending a bail hearing on Saturday.
Mafe was admitted to Valkenberg last week following an order by Magistrate Zamekile Mbalo based on a provisional diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia by a district surgeon.
The magistrate did not oppose the defence application for a review of his decision, confirming that he would abide by the order by Justice Hlope.
He made a cost order against the state which opposed the application but agreed with parts of the defence argument.
The court also heard that Mafe had tested positive for Covid19.
