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Polokwane - A University of Venda student allegedly linked to four murders on the campus and its outskirts will be mentally evaluated before a decision is made regarding his bail application.
On Thursday, the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court granted an application by the State for Ndivhuwo Ntsieni to be assessed, a Sapa correspondent reported.
A decision on whether Ntsieni would be granted bail was postponed for two months until his next court appearance on 24 February, pending the outcome of the evaluation.
He would be taken to Hayani mental hospital for observation by a panel of social workers and a psychologist.
Ntsieni, also accused of rape, robbery, and kidnapping, was arrested after he allegedly killed a university student, a staff member, and two girls at the campus in Thohoyandou, Limpopo.
He allegedly assaulted and robbed another university student.
Ntsieni told the court he could not plead to the charges because the events that unfolded in his life were out of his control.
One of the crimes started after he was initiated into Satanism by a stranger who offered him R100.
In his bail application affidavit Ntsieni said: "I was met [by] a guy known as Rendani who stays around Tshakhuma, and he gave me a R100 note and he said I should work with him and said he will show me as to how we will operate.
"Since that I experienced the habit of waking up at night without knowledge and control of it."
He told the court that since his arrest, his mother’s health had deteriorated due to stress.
"By my conditions, she is suffering with high blood pressure and heart complications," he said.
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Ntsieni claimed the waking up episodes continued while he was in Thohoyandou Medium B prison, and happened without his control or knowledge.
During the bail application on Thursday, he said his parents' prayers helped him heal and they would want the court to release him on bail.
"It would be proper to recommend me to be assessed by a psychologist," Ntsieni said.
This statement was welcomed by prosecutor Mashudu Nekhumbe.
However, defence lawyer Norman Ndou, from the Legal Aid board, wanted the court to rule on bail without a report from a psychologist and social workers.
Magistrate Adriaan Hendrik Geldenhuys agreed with the State's submission and ruled that Ntsieni be observed by experts to determine his psychological fitness to stand trial.
