Parliament fire: what is the truth?

THE TRIAL of the man accused of setting fire to Parliament, Zandile Mafe, must clear speedily what is becoming a convoluted and confusing situation.

Without going into the merits of the case as this should be left to the courts to decide, the situation is degenerating into a circus. This issue is becoming increasingly critical because all sorts of opportunists are jumping on the bandwagon and wish to milk this situation for their own benefit.

The most appalling unsubstantiated arguments doing the rounds is he is a scapegoat because he is “poor and black” with no iota of evidence to support this assertion.

Mafe, as would be expected, denies involvement but he is making suspicious statements. In his affidavit to the court to be released on bail he makes curious assertions. One is the opaque statement he found “himself at the wrong place at the wrong time”. What on earth does he mean? Was he or was he not found within the precincts of Parliament? And where was he found by the police: sleeping on the street as many have claimed?

The police have claimed they caught him at about 6am, when he was exiting the parliamentary precinct when the fire reportedly started at about 1am. If he started the fire at 1am, what was he doing for five hours in the precinct and why was he not apprehended earlier?

Let this trial commence as soon as possible so society will know the truth.