The Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court has dismissed an application by the state to have self-proclaimed prophet Paseka 'Mboro' Motshoeneng's bail conditions amended. This is after he allegedly mentioned in a podcast that he knows that one of the witnesses was responsible for burning his church. Mboro, his son Revival and bodyguard Camillot Baloyi appeared in court today facing multiple charges that include kidnapping, possession of dangerous weapons and assault.

BAIL CONDITIONS WON'T CHANGE

The magistrate presiding over the matter, Ipfi Mammburu, said he was not convinced that as the court they should interfere or tamper with the conditions that were previously set for bail. The state said Mboro threatened his grandchildren's maternal grandmother, Margaret Malaza, by mentioning her on the podcast.

"He was only ordered not to directly contact or indirectly contact the witness and not that he can't say anything about them. His rants could be because he is expressing himself as a complainant in the matter but it cannot be that he intended to cause harm or danger to any of the witnesses. As such I will not grant the application to have Mboro's bail conditions amended," the magistrate added.

INVESTIGATIONS ONGOING

Mboro and his co-accused were arrested in August after an incident at a school in Katlehong, on the East Rand, which was captured on video and went viral on social media. The self-proclaimed prophet was seen wielding pangas at the teachers while his bodyguard walked around the school premises armed in what is believed to be an AK47. The NPA's Phindi Mjonondwane said when a person appears in court, they are provisionally charged until investigations are complete. "Investigations will be ongoing and the final charges will only come once investigations are finalised." Motsoeneng was released on R3 000 bail alongside his bodyguard last month after the state conceded that one of the charges he faced, which falls under the Firearms Control Act, could not be proven because the gun seen on social media videos was a replica. The matter was postponed to 11 November when it will be moved to the regional court.