The case against the men arrested during a protest against the Shepherd Bushiri-led Enlightened Christian Gathering Church has been postponed.
On Thursday, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court postponed the case to 14 March after one of the accused, Prince Gcaba, failed to attend the hearing.
The court also issued a warrant for his arrest.
It was also found he had provided the court with a false address.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: ‘Bushiri protestor’ goes back to ‘daddy’
Gcaba, Kabelo Tladinyane and Kennedy Nemoshongwa were arrested for alleged public violence and the violation of a road traffic act on 6 January 2019, during a series of demonstrations outside the Pretoria showgrounds where the church holds its services.
The demonstrators were protesting against the perceived role of the church in the death of three congregants and injury to 17 others in a stampede.
The accused were released on R500 bail each during their first court appearance on 8 January.
A reliable source told Rekord Gcaba had outside the courtroom later claimed to have been present throughout.
But defence lawyer Vincent Shela said he had not been in consultation with Gcaba for a while.
Gcaba, despite being shot at in the face and participating in the demonstrations against the church, has since gone back to “seek forgiveness” from Bushiri, who is fondly referred to by adherents as “Major 1”.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: ‘Bushiri protesters’ back in dock
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