A Zimbabwean student’s application to be sent for psychiatric evaluation following his alleged attempt to hijack a South African Airways (SAA) flight was on Friday postponed in the Bellville Regional Court.
Lawyer Reuben Liddell will now, on Tuesday, launch the application to have Tinashe Rioga sent to the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital to assess whether he is fit to stand trial. Friday’s hearing was postponed as Liddell had to be in the Cape High Court.
Rioga nevertheless made a brief appearance before magistrate Johann Lombard, who ruled that he remain in custody until his next appearance.
In June an SAA flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg had to return to Cape Town after Rioga allegedly threatened an air hostess with a syringe and demanded access to the cockpit.
Passengers, including an off-duty pilot, rushed to her assistance and overpowered Rioga. — Sapa