The suspect in the torching of the Parliamentary buildings in January 2022 refused to attend his court hearing on Friday.
This was the third time that Zandile Christmas Mafe had done so.
He was scheduled for a pre-trial conference. A spokesperson from the National Prosecuting Authority said that he had not given reasons for refusing to attend court, ‘but just refused to come out of his prison cell.’
Despite attempts by prison officials to get Mafe to leave his cell, he steadfastly refused.
On a previous occasion, Mafe had refused to attend a pre-trial conference, demanding a television, radio and a kettle in his cell.
Mafe’s lawyer expressed ‘surprise’ that his client had failed to show up at court. When the judge suggested holding the hearing in Pollsmoor Prison, Mafe’s lawyer said that this might not guarantee his attendance, and added that his client was not guilty of the offences.
Another pre-trial conference is to be held on 10 February.
[Image: PhilippN, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2304571]