Tinashe Rioga, the 21-year old Zimbabwean accused of trying to hijack a South African Airways domestic flight from Cape Town on June 17, appeared briefly in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The case was postponed for a bail application on July 5, and he was remanded in the Bellville South police station cells.
The court, where proceedings were conducted with the aid of a Shona-speaking interpreter, was told that Rioga was a Zimbabwean national in South Africa on a study permit.
The University of Cape Town student has no pending cases, outstanding warrants or previous convictions.
The State will oppose bail for Rioga, who allegedly brandished a hypodermic syringe during his abortive hijack attempt.
The bespectacled student, who is doing an information technology course, faces charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and of contravening aviation regulations. He was due to complete his course at the end of 2006. – Sapa