Nqakula's alleged killer mentally unstable - lawyer

Johannesburg - The 24-year-old man alleged to have fatally stabbed the son of Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, was reported to be suffering from a mental illness.

Carlos Higuera's lawyer told the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court that he suffered from schizophrenia.

The court was told that Higuera's family had informed his lawyers he started acting strangely in 2010.

He was then admitted to several hospitals and mental institutions and was on medication.

Higuera's father, who is originally from Chile, took to the stand on Wednesday afternoon where he explained to the court the illness from which his son suffered.

Higuera, 24, faces a murder charge after he was arrested on Saturday for allegedly stabbing 23-year-old Chumani Nqakula to death.

It was understood that Nqakula and Higuera were acquaintances.

It is unclear what led to the incident which resulted in Nqakula's death.

When Higuera first appeared in court on Monday, he had clear bruise marks on his head.

Magistrate Albertus Roux questioned him about the bruising, to which he replied repeatedly: "They had injured me."

Higuera later explained he had sustained an injury to his head and body when he was attacked by two men on the night of the stabbing - one of them being Nqakula.

Chumani's father, Charles Nqakula was previously the minister of defence and later the minister of safety and security. He is currently high commissioner to Mozambique.