Self-proclaimed prophet, Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary have been granted bail of R200 000 each with strict conditions.
Prophet Bushiri, his wife, Mary, Landiwe Ntlokwana and Zethu Mudolo were granted bail in the Pretoria Central Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning.
News reports from The Citezen states that Magistrate Thandi Thelede granted four of the five accused bail, and warned the them not to interfere with the State’s case or to contact witnesses.
The five accused were arrested in October. Bushiri and his wife are facing charges of fraud, theft and money laundering.
The other accused in the matter Landiwe Ntlokwana got bail of R100 000 Mudolo Zethu was given bail of R20 000.
All of the accused have to report at a nearby police station on Monday and Friday between 6am and 6pm.
“Accused number four and five (the Bushiris) are barred from travelling anywhere else in the republic of South Africa. They can only travel within Gauteng and North West province until the case is finalized,” said magistrate Thandi Theledi.
As part of the bail condition Bushiri and his wife have to hand in their title deed for their property in Centurion as a guarantee.
They are also not allowed to make any comments in their church services about witnesses, the prosecution team and those involved in the case.
The Bushiri couple were told not to leave South Africa until the case against them was finalised.
Outside the court, members of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church again showed up in their numbers to show their support for the self-proclaimed prophet and his co-accused in court.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Monday that his department had uncovered evidence that the Bushiris entered the country using visitors’ visas, and opted to conduct business, which is not allowed.
Two previous notices sent to the Bushiris explaining details in their permanent residence applications were also withdrawn. The latest one was sent out in August, just two months before they were arrested.
The couple have been in the country since 6 September 2009.
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