Thobela Xoseni in the Cape Town Magistrates Court in June when he was referred to Valkenberg psychiatric institution. Photo: Tariro Washinyira
1 August 2019
Thobela Xoseni, a 30-year-old man accused of torching Metrorail carriages at Cape Town Station on 21 April, will be remanded in Pollsmoor Prison’s hospital section, the Cape Town Regional Court heard on Thursday morning.
He is charged under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act for intentionally damaging essential infrastructure.
On 3 May, the court ruled that Xoseni be admitted to Valkenberg psychiatric institution for observation for 30 days.
Magistrate Michelle Adams said that the state should provide the court with Xoseni’s medical report by 8 August. Based on the evidence of the report, the decision will then be made whether he should be sent back to Valkenberg psychiatric institution permanently.
Xoseni appeared for the fourth time in court on Thursday morning, after his case was transferred from the magistrate courts to the regional court. He will appear again on 29 August.
Senior Legal Aid defence advocate Mornay Calitz, who is representing Xoseni, told the media outside the court that they had received Xoseni’s medical report. He also said they were still waiting for evidence from the state in the form of video footage and photographs.