A former patient at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria was arrested on Monday after forcing his way into the facility wielding an axe.
”The man, who was a former patient, came here holding a home-made axe and threatened security guards at the front gate,” said Weskoppies hospital’s chief executive, Maureen Mabena.
”The guards were unable to restrain him [and] had to let him in. After he entered the grounds, the guards followed him at a distance,” Mabena said.
Police were then called and arrested the man. He is being held at the Skinner Street clinic, Mabena said.
”Although I am aware that he was a patient here, I cannot say what he was being treated for as I was not responsible for his treatment,” she added.
”The 39-year-old Pretoria Gardens man was arrested at the scene and is to appear at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court shortly,” said police spokesperson Captain Piletji Sebola.
The man is to face charges of intimidation and possession of a dangerous weapon.
”The axe used by the man to intimidate the guards was confiscated on his arrest,” Sebola said.
A two-page feature in Monday’s Sowetan newspaper alleged that:
- suicide is common at the hospital;
- patients are regularly assaulted;
- some security guards are corrupt and often bribed by patients;
- dangerous criminals mix freely with other patients; and
- errant patients are ”banished”.
The allegations were denied by hospital management.
A further allegation of rape was included in the article.
”We have not received any reports of rapes from the hospital,” Sebola said. — Sapa