The men arrested in connection with a series of protests outside the Shepherd Bushiri-led church will return to court in June.
Kabelo Tladinyane and Kennedy Nemoshongwa made a brief appearance in the Atteridgeville magistrate’s court on Wednesday and were expected to plead.
The two were arrested outside the Enlightened Christian Gathering church in January where they protested following the death of three congregants that had been trampled to death in December – 17 others were injured in the stampede.
The duo, and a co-accused, face charges of public violence and violation of a road traffic act.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Embattled Bushiri barred from private jet
Their co-accused, Price Gcaba, has not attended court since he was released on R500 bail.
Confusion arose in the courtroom when the magistrate asked Tladinyane and Nemoshongwa if they knew the apparently newly-appointed lawyer the prosecutor had mentioned.
The prosecutor had said the men’s lawyer had asked for a postponement as he would only return from Dubai in 30 days.
Tladinyane and Nemoshongwa appeared confused and said they knew nothing about the lawyer but suggested he might have been appointed by their organisation – SA national civics organisation.
Tladinyane then told the court he and Nemoshongwa required the assistance of a Legal Aid attorney.
The reluctant attorney made an unsuccessful attempt to contact the apparently newly-appointed attorney before approaching the duo.
The two were expected to appear again in the Atteridgeville magistrate’s court on 4 June.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: ‘Bushiri protesters’ case postponed, again
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