The man who allegedly stabbed to death Chumani Nqakula, son of Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, is still on a long waiting list for admissions to the Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital.
The Johannesburg Magistrate Court heard on Monday that when Carlos Higuera was put on the list in November last year, he was number 169 in the queue. He was now number 153 on the list.
The state told the court that it had tried get Higuera's case prioritised but it was told that was not possible and all the patients on the list were treated as high priority.
This meant that Higuera, who is facing a murder charge, would remain locked behind bars.
The 24-year-old is currently incarcerated in the hospital wing of a Johannesburg prison facility.
While the defence had called for magistrate, Albertus Roux, to note this as a final postponement, he denied their request and noted that it was possible for Higuera to still be on the waiting list this time next year.
Case postponed
Roux postponed the case to March 17.
During a previous appearance, Higuera's father, George, told Roux while on the stand that his son suffered from schizophrenia.
His mental illness began in 2010 after his mother and girlfriend died in the same month.
Higuera is also alleged to have changed his medication two days before he allegedly fatally stabbed Nqakula.
The 23-year-old murder accused has spent the last two months behind bars. In his previous court appearances, he appeared dazed, confused and scared as he sat in the dock.
On Monday however, Higuera appeared more composed.
While it was unclear what had led to the fatal assault on Nqakula's, police at the time said Nqakula and his alleged killer knew each other.
Source News 24
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