Zandile Mafe, the man allegedly responsible for setting Parliament on fire, has been denied bail.
Mafe faces charges of housebreaking with intent to commit terrorism and arson, arson, terrorism and theft.
The terrorism charges are schedule 6 offences, which require the defense to adduce evidence of exceptional circumstances to prove that releasing the accused on bail is in the interest of justice.
Mafe’s senior counsel, Dali Mpofu, listed 12 such exceptional circumstances, including his unlawful referral to Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital for mental assessment.
The State countered that the 12 circumstances were “thumb-sucked” and said that Mafe may be a flight risk because he has no ties to the Western Cape and that he was a danger to himself and society at large because of threats he made in an alleged confession.
Magistrate Adams agreed with the State and said the bail application was dismissed because the defense failed to prove exceptional circumstances.
Mafe was remanded in custody until Friday, 11 February.
Sources: SABC News, MSN
Follow FiND iT on Facebook here.
ALSO READ: Mafe phone being analyzed as he awaits bail decision
