Pretoria – The son of former SABC board member Hope Zinde, Mark, briefly appeared in the North Gauteng High Court on Monday, facing charges of murder, drug possession, assault, and attempted murder.
The case against Mark Zinde was postponed to Thursday, for the court to hear an application for him to be re-admitted to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital to undergo mental observation after he allegedly assaulted his father in November.
The 23-year-old is accused of killing his 50-year-old mother in June last year. Hope Zinde is a former South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board member, journalist, and television news anchor.
In December, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) agreed to centralise the two cases. On Monday, Zinde wore matching grey tracksuit pants and a sweater and sat quietly in the dock.
His family tried to grab his attention before the proceedings but Zinde kept his face down while smiling to himself. The State alleges that he killed his mother at their home in Pecanwood Estate, Hartbeespoort Dam, near Brits.
Her body was found on June 11, 2016, inside the boot of her car. He was referred to undergo psychiatric evaluation at the Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria following his arrest.
He was subsequently released on R10,000 bail in September but was re-arrested in November 2016, for allegedly attacking his father, Dr Lebohang Manoto, at his Walkerville home, south of Johannesburg.
The State charged him with assault with intention to cause grievous bodily harm and attempted murder. Prosecutor Andre Wilsenach said Zinde's application was based on the two charges which took place in November and would be brought on Thursday.
When going down the stairs leading to the holding cells, Zinde hurled insults at the judge while also gesticulating.
He was calmed down by his family who were visibly upset over his behaviour. The initial assessment report from Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital declared that he was fit to stand trial and he was capable of understanding court proceedings.
The report further stated that he did not suffer from any mental disorder when he allegedly killed his mother. However, his family insisted that he was not in his right mind when he allegedly killed his mother.
The defence disputed the reported and wanted him to be re-admitted at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital for a computed tomography (CAT scan) of his brain and an electroencephalogram (EEG) to be conducted.
The court, however, dismissed his application to be re-admitted.