Christmas confessed, Hawks tell family
THE MAN who has been dominating headlines for the past few days has “confessed” to starting the fire that ripped through two buildings in the Parliament precinct.
A high-level source in the Hawks said Zandile Christmas Mafe confessed to starting the fire that caused severe damage to Parliament’s National and Old assemblies this week.
The source, who declined to be named, said: “(Mafe) confessed and even showed us how he started the fire. But he does not want to disclose how he gained access.
“Also on the footage, it does not show how he gained access, only when he is leaving through a window where he was found by cops.”
Mafe was arrested the same day the fire broke out.
Luvuyo Godla, the lawyer represent- ing Mafe, insisted the “confession” was coerced and would not stand up in a court of law.
“There is no such thing. They were on a fishing expedition. They put him (Mafe) under duress to force out a confession from him.
“The court proceedings were flawed and I am yet to receive copies of the charge sheet.”
Godla said his client was not read his rights ahead of the confession being obtained.
Independent Media can also reveal that investigators were at Mafe’s home in Mahikeng on Thursday and yesterday.
Mafe’s brother Zamile Matiwane said the Hawks informed him yesterday that his brother had confessed to starting the fire.
“I asked what evidence they had to show that he confessed and they could not tell me. I asked who was present when he confessed and they said it was in the presence of the judge.”
Matiwane said he did not believe that his brother confessed but alleged the investigators were trying hard to pin the fire on him.
“They asked about his political affiliation, whether he was in the country in December and the schools he had attended.”
Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo declined to confirm if they received a confession from Mafe and that their investigators were in Mahikeng.
“All will be revealed on Tuesday during the bail application process,” she said.
Mafe is charged with two counts of arson, theft, housebreaking, and contravening explosives legislation. The National Prosecuting Authority indicated that more charges could be added.
Godla said there was a possibility that the case may be thrown out of court as the Hawks had not shown evidence other than catching him on the premises.
Godla said when his client made a 360 degree turn on his first appearance it was due to confusion.
“He was overwhelmed. There were many people inside the court. Even the magistrate could not see him properly. I have seen suspects being seated immediately after entering the dock.”
Independent Media has it on good authority that senior counsel, advocate Dali Mpofu, will be part of the legal team representing the accused.
Speaking to Independendent Media from Pollsmoor Prison this week, Mafe said he was innocent.
“I did not do it and I am not a mad man. I am not sad that Parliament burnt down because it does not do anything to alleviate my life and those of people like me.”
He did not say how he ended up inside Parliament but said he went there early because he wanted to be first in the queue when the soup kitchen opened.
The City of Cape Town found that Parliament was not compliant with many fire safety regulations.
A report found that National Assembly sprinkler valves had not been serviced since 2017. The report also stated that it was unclear if the fire alarm and detection system was operational.
“No fire alarm was received by the Cape Town Fire Service from the old or new Assembly buildings. An alarm was received after the fire fighters were already on scene from Tuynhuys adjacent to the assembly buildings,” read the report. See Page 4
TENSION is mounting in Limpopo after some ANC members accused branch leaders of elbowing them out of the January 8 rally to be held at the Old Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane today by depriving them of the tags that would grant them access to the stadium.
Attendance at the rally, to be addressed by party president Cyril Ramaphosa, is strictly by invitation. The stadium can only accommodate 2 000 people as stipulated by the country’s Covid-19 regulations. A national executive committee (NEC) member of the governing party said the tags were only sent to the province’s five regions of Peter Mokaba (Capricorn district which includes Polokwane), Vhembe,
Sekhukhune, Mopani and Waterberg.
A further 600 tags were reserved for NEC members, leagues and provincial top fives. With limited numbers, some claim the event should have been moved to a hall, rather held than a stadium.
A leader of the ANC in Vhembe said: “This whole thing of limiting attendance to 2 000 in a big stadium like that one is meant to control the people so that CR (Ramaphosa) is not embarrassed. He is not enjoying widespread support in the province as they claim. To eliminate any potential threat, they are now issuing these tags to members who are friendly to Ramaphosa so that he could be projected as a man in charge of the movement. He is not. Watch this space, there will be sparks outside the stadium, people will go there even without the tags.”
The leader added that what was adding to their opponent’s anxiety was that suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule was in Limpopo meeting his supporters.
“They want to stage-manage this so that Ace is not seen to be having any support in the province. They are wrong and they will realise that they miscalculated,” he said.
However another leader, who is pro-ramaphosa in the Sekhukhune region, rejected this, saying the claim that the tags had been issued in a factional manner was a ploy by Magashule’s supporters to be seen as victims.
“They don’t enjoy any support here, CR is in control of everything, hence everywhere he went, branches were calling for him to take a second term. The rally tomorrow will go as planned, no one will be disrupted and CR will get a standing ovation,” the Ramaphosa backer said.
But the former leader of the youth league in Limpopo, Ernest Gogome, said he was aware that tags were being selectively given and that was done to protect Ramaphosa from any embarrassment. “The whole event is badly organised, hence the issue of tags which are now being given out selectively,” Gogome said. See Page 4