Zandile Mafe shouted out in the Western Cape High Court that he was indeed the one who set fire to Parliament.
Zandile Mafe (born December 24, 1972) is a South African and alleged arsonist. He made headlines for his arrest in connection with the fire at the Parliament.
Some have accused him of being a Russian- or Chinese-trained operative who allegedly caused the fire at Parliament. He denies involvement with any military veterans’ associations that could have explosives knowledge.
| Zandile Mafe | |
|---|---|
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| Personal Information | |
| Full Name: | Zandile Christmas Mafe |
| Born: | December 24, 1972 (age 50 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Mahikeng, North West |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | Grade 11 |
| Partner: | Mbinde Andoni (ex.) |
| Residence: | Khayelitsha, Site B |
Early Life
Zandile Mafe was born on December 24, 1972, in Mahikeng, North West. He lost his mother at a young age while his father worked as a security guard.
His stepmother had no work. He has two brothers and moved to the Western Cape for greener pastures.
Education
Due to financial constraints, he was unable to complete his studies. He left high school in Grade 11 in search of greener pastures.
Career
Mafe carries grocery bags for shoppers in exchange for small tips.
Arson case
Mafe says that he only knew the fire when the police woke him up outside the parliamentary precinct.
According to him, they had been no footage of him walking in the precinct at the time of the fire.
In his claims, the police handed two boxes of contents he did know to carry during his transport for the question. His statements clarified his place of residence – the streets or in Khayelitsha.
According to him, he has had a fixed address for the past two years and was in a shack in Site B, Khayelitsha. Since he did only menial work and carried groceries for tips, he could not always afford to travel home.
So he laid his head outside the precinct sometimes but would go to his shack to check if it was still secure and to change his clothes. He claims the police manhandled him.
According to Mafe, they took him to Cape Town police station. An unknown man booked him out and took him to a place by car.
They told him he could get the death sentence for causing the fire in Parliament and that he should cooperate with the police.
Zandile Mafe’s lawyer Luvuyo Godla says his rant in court raises serious red flags. Mafe went on a rant before his case could start on Thursday. He went for an assessment at Fort England Psychiatric Hospital in March.
Parliament arson accused Zandile Mafe shouted: “I did burn Parliament,” as he entered the dock. He made the confession in the Western Cape High Court on Thursday morning.
Personal Life
Zandile Mafe lives in Khayelitsha, Site B. He has a fixed address and has stayed in Western Cape for over six years. He has not said anything about his wife but he had a lover named Mbinde Andoni.