Through the eyes of his family: Who is the alleged arsonist?
Zandile Christmas Mafe, the man accused of setting Parliament ablaze, is currently surrounded by many narratives about his character and alleged crimes. His last appearance in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on 11 January was marked by several revelations, including a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, the addition of a terrorism charge against him, and his subsequent announcement that he would go on a hunger strike if his bail application was not heard.
The NPA confirmed on 14 January that it had received a notice of motion from the defence for an urgent application for bail at the Cape Town High Court on 15 January.
Daily Maverick spoke to his family to better understand the man behind the headlines. “We don’t have that special relationship,” said Sibongile Matiwane, a cousin of the alleged Parliament arsonist. According to Matiwane, Mafe had previously lived in Mafikeng in North West, where his three siblings resided. Matiwane added that Mafe’s sister had died some time ago, leaving him with two remaining brothers. He lived with one in Mafikeng, where they stayed in the same yard before Mafe left “for greener pastures” in Cape Town.
“He told me he was working in a bakery,” said Matiwane. “Then, when this lockdown started, that’s when things [started] to turn left.” He explained that Mafe found it difficult to pay rent and buy food during this time. He described Mafe’s life as characterised by trying to stave off poverty and make ends meet.
“He was completely alone [after moving to Cape Town],” said Matiwane. Matiwane and his brother live in Cape Town, and Mafe usually contacted his brother if he needed help. He said that Mafe had a niece in the Strand, but she had since died.
Speaking about Mafe’s psychological state, which came under question in court and resulted in the decision to admit Mafe to Valkenberg Hospital for evaluation, Matiwane said he had never seen any signs of emotional instability in his cousin.
According to Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the prosecution received a document after Mafe’s first court appearance. It confirmed the district surgeon’s diagnosis that Mafe experiences paranoid schizophrenia. Ntabazalila said they had no choice but to bring this to the court’s attention on 11 January.
For Matiwane, Mafe’s personality is one that is partial to solitude and privacy. “He likes to sit there, maybe read something or whatever, but he doesn’t like to engage with a lot of people.”
Mafe’s other cousin, Vintiwembi Matiwane, echoed this account of the accused’s character. “He’s a quiet person. He likes his own space, because of his stuttering. That is why he’s always alone. But, if you give him the chance to speak, then he can express himself.”
Sibongile Matiwane disclosed that Mafe had what he would describe as a friend, an “old man” who Mafe knew when he lived in Langa, before moving to Khayelitsha. Sibongile Matiwane was not aware that Mafe had moved to Khayelitsha until after he made headlines for his alleged crimes.
When asked if they believe that their cousin could ever commit the crimes he is accused of, both Sibongile Matiwane and Vintiwembi Matiwane answered without hesitation: “No.”
Vintiwembi Matiwane believes Mafe was in the “wrong place at the wrong time”.
“I don’t believe he could have done that,” he concluded, suggesting that the blame is being unfairly dumped on Mafe.
Ntabazalila denied claims of persecution. “We don’t have anything personal against him,” he said. “What we are dealing with is the evidence that we have in front of us, which points, at present, at him.” Ntabazalila emphasised that the prosecution did not know of Mafe before the case.
In the face of having his bail application postponed, Mafe announced in court on 11 January that he would go on a hunger strike.
“The court cannot be held at ransom,” Ntabazalila declared earlier.
Regarding Mafe’s bail application for 15 January, the NPA is not too worried.
“If they bring bail, we’ll oppose bail,” said Ntabazalila on 14 January, adding it was unlikely this would affect Mafe’s 30-day psychiatric evaluation period.
“He’ll be brought to court and then after that he’ll go back to Valkenberg.”