A Mpumalanga magistrate on Wednesday told a rape suspect he should have asked for sex from an adult instead of forcing himself on a minor.

"Respect women and please ask for sex. Don't rape because you are in trouble due to itswayi," Senior Magistrate Sam Nkuna told Freddy Fanie Ndlovu, 23, during his appearance in the Tonga Magistrate's Court, a Sapa correspondent reported.

"Itswayi" literally means salt, but is figuratively used to poke fun at sexual frustration. Nkuna was speaking in SiSwati.

Ndlovu was arrested on November 8 last year, following the rape of a minor at his home in Mangweni village near the Swaziland and Mozambican border.

Ndlovu, who is suspected to be mentally unstable, angrily told Nkuna he should stop making fun of him.

"I am sick and tired of you people in this court making fun of me saying that I am mentally ill. I am not mad. Angeke ngikumele loko (I won't stand for it)," Ndlovu said.

Nkuna said he would send Ndlovu back to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria for further mental evaluation.

"Please worship, I already changed my statement and I have pleaded guilty," Ndlovu said.

"I am sick and tired of you always planning to transfer me back to Weskoppies. Life in custody is painful. I want to go home now."

Nkuna ignored his outburst and ordered him to be kept in custody until November 12, when psychiatric results from his previous mental evaluation at Weskoppies were expected to be presented.