South African parliament fire suspect faces additional charge of 'terrorism act'
January 11, 2022, 5:33 pm

South African parliament fire suspect faces additional charge of 'terrorism act'

South Africa parliament-Cape Town/Facebook page

The Xinhua reported that South African prosecution has added a charge of "terrorism act" to a Cape Town man who is suspected of setting fire to Parliament, which eventually gutted parliament buildings.

Zandile Christmas Mafe, 49, had been charged with housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, two counts of arson, possession of an explosive device and destruction of an essential infrastructure.

In Mafe's second appearing at Cape Town Magistrates' Court after a 7-day postponement required by the prosecution, it was heard that the prosecution added a count in terms of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act, and that the accused was diagnosed of paranoid Schizophrenia after being sent for mental observation by the State last Monday.

A major fire broke out in the South African parliament building in Cape Town on January 2, 2022/Facebook page

The accused "did unlawfully and intentionally deliver, place, discharge or detonate an explosive or other lethal devices in, into or against a place of public use, a state or government facility, or an infrastructure facility, at or near Parliament, upon or about Jan. 2," read the charge sheet.

The matter has been postponed until Feb. 11, for Mafe to go for 30-day mental observation at a hospital as applied by the prosecution.

New blaze at South Africa's Parliament contained and suspect due to appear in court

However, the defence plans to bring the bail application before that, while the date has not been set, as the prosecution office is closed for decontamination, Eric Ntabazalila, regional spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (NPA), told media outside the court.

In a separate live interview with local TV channel eNCA, Ntabazalila said the prosecution decided to add the charge of "terrorism act with using explosives to destroy the parliament" after viewing a footage showing Mafe's presence in the parliament.

Person arrested following the outbreak of fire at South Africa's parliament

He also said the reason for the mental observation is that it will determine whether Mafe is able to keep instruction or understand the proceeding of the court after the bail application starts.

Outside the court people were protesting against the arrest of Mafe, who is said to be homeless, alleging the move is a cover-up.

Mafe was allegedly caught with suspected stealing property after he gained entry to the parliamentary precinct without authorization, according to the police.

South African President promises deep investigation into parliament fire

The fire, which lasted more than 70 hours from Jan. 2, severely damaged the building of the National Assembly (NA), the lower house, and completely burned down the NA chamber. It also caused extensive damage to the century-old Old Assembly building that houses the National Council of Provinces, the upper house.

Houses of Parliament in the South African city of Cape Town on fire

The Parliament received a fire and safety report of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services last Thursday, which contains preliminary observations of the firefighters during the course of their work, but said it "does not in any way" purport to provide conclusive findings and evidence regarding the cause and the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Source: xinhua

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.