News24 reports that the man accused of setting trains on fire at the Cape Town station in April would hopefully begin his 30 days' mental observation from Tuesday, the Cape Town Magistrate's Court heard on Monday.  

Thobela Xoseni's Legal Aid lawyer told the court that he had been informed that a bed was available for his client at the Valkenberg psychiatric hospital.  The psychiatric panel will need to determine whether Xoseni is able to understand proceedings, so as to present a proper defence, or unable to do so due to a mental defect or illness.  Should the panel observe any mental defect or illness, it will need to express an opinion whether the accused can be held criminally responsible for the offence.  The arson attack on 21 April destroyed 12 coaches, two motor coaches and nine plain trailers.  Meantime, several fires have been reported at the Cape Town station over the last month.

• Read the full original of Kamva Somdyala’s report on this story at News24
• Read too, Cape Town 'train arsonist' to spend 30 days in psychiatric hospital, at TimesLIVE

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