702, Wednesday evening

Day. We have trained them. We have taken the time and the care to ensure that they understand that the job they are about to do is a mighty humble job to serve every one of you that well. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says mental health observations of people accused of serious and violent crimes is becoming a burden on the country's health facilities. He's blamed the country's courts, which he says for

Frequently order mental health observation for accused offenders instead of holding them in correctional facilities. Mutswaledi was briefing the National Council of Provinces Select Committee on Social Services today about his department's annual report. Minister Aaron Mutswaledi says court-ordered mental health observation has increased since the murder trial of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius. He says it's now become common for defense teams to invoke mental health when

Of their clients. Even criminals who commit the crimes habitually, they revoke this issue of mental health. And the judges and magistrates always rule that they must go to be observed. He says this is becoming a challenge due to things like bed shortages. Now, with this shortage you are having, it is a huge burden on the healthcare system to keep on observing people who have committed crimes. Because I can tell you, with my eyes closed, many of them are just criminals and nothing else.

He also told the committee that years of budget cuts have left the department in need of major investment. Barbara Londense, Eyewitness News, Parliament. A former tenant at Palm Springs Security Complex in Brooklyn began his testimony in the Western Cape High Court related to allegedly being assaulted by alleged 28 gang boss Ralph Stanfield. Stanfield, his wife Nicole Johnson, and 12 others face a slew of charges related to allegedly operating in a criminal enterprise known as the firm. Stanfield,