UPDATE: ‘Bushiri protesters’ to appear in court
This after three women were trampled to death when a stampede broke out and their bodies moved without the relevant authorities being informed.
The three men who were apparently shot at “unprovoked” by police and arrested for public violence and violation of a road traffic act are set to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The trio includes SA national civics organisation (Sanco) ward 58 deputy chairperson Kabelo Tladinyane. They were shot at and allegedly pounced on by police as they were walking towards the vehicle they were travelling in from a tavern.
“At this stage, we cannot divulge on the merits of the case,” Pretoria Central police spokesperson Captain Augustinah Selepe said.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: West police wound two, nab three over ‘Bushiri protest’
Selepe said the state and the defence would present their evidence before the court.
Among the arrested was a man who was shot in the face by rubber bullets. He was allegedly held in a police holding cell for more than three hours while bleeding, including from the mouth, before being taken to hospital, Sanco claimed.
“There will be an investigation if the victim feels that his rights were violated,” Selepe said.
“Police may use their discretion to deal with any issue at a crime scene, including seeking immediate medical assistance for victims or suspects.”
She said that members of the public were not permitted to interfere with the police investigation at a crime scene.
ALSO READ: Irked Pretorians demonstrate outside Bushiri church, again
The men were arrested for their suspected involvement in the ongoing demonstrations outside Prophet Bushiri’s Enlightened Christian Gathering at the Tshwane events centre after three women were trampled to death when a stampede broke out when a thunderstorm started and their bodies moved without the relevant authorities being informed.
A fourth woman reportedly died from her injuries in hospital on Friday evening.
Community members and organisations in the neighbourhood have called for Bushiri’s church to be closed down and for him to leave the country.
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