By Zelda Venter
Thabo Masinga, accused of brutally attacking two nurses at a prison hospital in 2005, has said there are ghosts in C-Max Prison.
He made the startling revelation during his trial at the Pretoria high court on Wednesday.
Masinga, up for attempted murder, kidnapping and rape, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In February he was referred for the second time to Weskoppies Hospital for observation after a psychiatrist told the court Masinga was mentally disturbed. But he can't be taken in for mental examination immediately as he is number 21 on the waiting list.
Acting Judge Solly Sithole heard that Masinga would probably be only admitted at the end of May.
The judge explained the situation to Masinga and told him he would remain in C-Max Prison until he went to Weskoppies Hospital.
Masinga then asked whether the judge could order that he be transferred to a different section of the prison.
Asked why, Masinga claimed there were ghosts in his section.
"That is one of the consequences of being in jail. If you are alone in your cell, you hallucinate alone," the judge told Masinga.
Masinga also objected to the fact that he had to exercise alone in prison. But the judge told him he could "exercise with the ghosts".
Professor Wicus Coetzee had earlier told the court that when he observed Masinga, he was "totally psychotic".
He said Masinga could hardly speak about his horrible childhood, but said his former job in a morgue had greatly upset him.
He added that Masinga appeared to be even more psychotic after using drugs.
Masinga claimed he was in the prison toilet using drugs when prison officials dragged him to the hospital section, where they opened the door to a storeroom and showed him blood, alleging it was from two nurses whose throats he had slit.
The nurses have since instituted civil proceedings against Correctional Services, claiming millions in damages.
Masinga's trial was postponed to September 15.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1 ... 730C208246
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