The man accused of starting a fire that gutted parts of South Africa's parliament complex applied for bail on Saturday 15 January.

Advocate Dali Mpofu, senior counsel for Zandile Mafe, the accused man, brought the urgent application in the Western Cape High Court.

It comes after a lower court denied him bail and sent him for psychiatric evaluation.

Mafe is currently being held at the Valkenberg mental health facility. He denies having mental health issues.

AZAPO (Azanian People’s Organisation) and PAC (Pan Africanist Congress) activists protested outside court, demanding his release. Police prevented access to the area surrounding the court.

Venetia Orgill, who runs a homeless feeding scheme often used by Made, came to show solidarity with protesters. She said she the homeless are being scapegoated and she vouches for Mafe’s innocence.

Advocate Dali Mpofu, senior counsel for Zandile Mafe, the man accused of starting the fire which gutted South Africa’s parliament, brought an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court for him to be released on bail. This comes after a lower court denied him bail and sent him for psychiatric evaluation.Mafe is currently being held at the Valkenberg mental health facility.

AZAPO (Azanian People’s Organisation) and PAC (Pan Africanist Congress) activists protested outside court, demanding his release. Police prevented access to the area surrounding the court.

Venetia Orgill, who runs homeless feeding scheme where Made often collected food came to show her solidarity with the protesters. She said she the homeless are being scapegoated and she vouches for Mafe’s innocence.

Eric Ntabazalila, Western Cape spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, said the order for admission to psychiatric observation will be held on Tuesday the 18th of January and the bail application will be on Saturday 22 January.