South African Parliament Fire Suspect Declared Unfit for Trial

Zandile Mafe, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had previously admitted to starting the blaze in protest against the government.

Zandile Mafe, the man charged with terrorism and other offenses over a 2022 fire that badly damaged South Africa's historic Parliament complex in Cape Town, has been declared unfit to stand trial.
Mafe was diagnosed with schizophrenia by an expert panel in a report, and a judge in the Western Cape High Court ruled that he agreed with the assessment.
Mafe has previously admitted in court hearings to starting the blaze in protest against Parliament, the local government in Cape Town, and the national government, claiming they have failed South Africa's people.
Mafe's lawyer said at Monday's hearing that he would appeal the ruling and wants his client to stand trial.
The fire, which started late at night on New Year's Day or early in the morning of Jan 2, 2022, burned for three days and needed more than 300 firefighters to ultimately extinguish it. The National Assembly building and an old Parliament building now used for offices were both badly damaged.