The 21-year-old man accused of rape at a Pretoria east eatery, Nicolas Ninow, has been hospitalised after an alleged drug overdose.
Ninow was admitted to the Kalafong hospital west of Pretoria last week after he had allegedly injected a concoction of drugs into the wrong vein while incarcerated at the Kgosi Mampuru II prison.
He has been at the prison since being arrested for the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl at the Dros restaurant in Silverton, east of Pretoria in September 2018.
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Gauteng correctional services department spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said although Ninow’s health was stable, he was yet to be discharged.
“Nicholas Ninow reported at our health care facility for medical attention and was examined by DCS health care professionals.”
Nxumalo said he was then transferred to an external medical facility for further examination.
He, however, noted the department was concerned by the reports of Ninow’s alleged drug overdose.
Ninow has been charged with rape, assault, possession of drugs, defeating the ends of justice and kidnapping.
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Civil rights movement #NotInMyNameSA spokesperson Themba Masango said they did not wish death upon Ninow and instead wished him well.
“We actually wish him well so he can face the might of the law and for justice can be discharged upon him.”
Masango said the organisation called for stricter security as drugs should not be smuggled “willy-nilly” into prisons.
Ninow was declared fit to stand trial in February after a 30-day psychiatric evaluation at the Weskoppies hospital after his lawyer told the court he was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
His trial was scheduled to start on 9 September at the Pretoria high court.
*Though the law prohibits identifying someone accused of a sexual offence before this individual has pleaded to the charge, Caxton made an editorial decision to name Ninow following the circumstances around his previous appearance on 2 October 2018.
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