A 16-year-old boy accused of raping a six-year-old girl asked to see an inyanga (traditional healer) instead of being sent to Weskoppies psychiatric hospital.
The boy, from Pienaar near Mbombela, was not asked to plead to a charge of rape when he appeared in the Nelspruit Regional Court in Mpumalanga on Wednesday.
Magistrate Willie Wilkins ordered that the boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor, be sent for mental evaluation at Weskoppies following reports of acting strangely and suicidal at the Barberton Juvenile Correction Facility.
He was arrested on October 3 2012 after he was accused for raping the minor.
"I have an illness that can only be detected by an inyanga. Only my family know about it and they have been trying to assist me. I ask the court to allow me to see an inyanga," the boy told the court.
When Wilkins asked the accused if he still remembered him.
"Yes," the boy answered.
"I told you to behave yourself whilst in prison, but you never did. The court is concerned about the way you act. Because you did not behave well, you will be sent to Weskoppies for mental observation. Thereafter the court will be able to make a decision," Wilkins told the accused.
The accused's family members were notified about the court's decision to send him to Weskoppies. Before the court was adjourned they were given documents to sign.
The case was postponed to March 23 for a report from Weskoppies. - African Eye News Service
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