05 Jun 2018

The trial for Neo Ngwenya, also known as Prophet Bonang of Pure Gospel Bible Church of God, is scheduled  for July 5 before Jwaneng magistrate, Mr Odirile Mokgatle.

He is facing four counts of impersonation, giving false information, false declaration for obtaining a passport and obtaining by false pretences.

The accused, whose identity and nationality is still questionable, has been in custody since last November.

During his court appearance last week, Ngwenya asked the court to re-read the substituted charge sheet to him because he alleged that there were some  irregularities.

However, Mr Mokgatle said the charge sheet was read to the accused in February, and that a plea of not guilty was entered so there was no need to re-read it unless the accused had intentions to change the plea in any of the counts.

Previously, the 19-year-old prophet was charged with a single count of  false declaration during an application for a passport.

It was alleged that he applied for a passport in April 2016 and wrote Margaret Tanka as his mother, but falsely filled Nurse Kono’s identity number as that of Margaret.

 Preliminary investigations revealed that Tanka whom the accused claimed was his mother, was once charged and convicted of the same offence and that her identity card and passport were forfeited to the state.

He also wrote Bashi Tanka as his father but falsely used Douglas Kono’s identity number. These emerged to be one of the couples in his congregation.

The prosecution, led by Sub Inspector Edwin Supang, applied for the substitution of the charge sheet earlier this year to add four more counts.

In the first count of impersonation, he is accused of intent to defraud by falsely representing himself as Neo Tanka.

On the second count, he allegedly furnished false information in his application for registration of a national identity card.

He is also accused of making a false declaration for the purpose of securing a passport while on the fourth count he allegedly obtained a driver’s licence through false pretences.

The accused has been remanded in custody and the  trial was set for July 5, 6 and 20, 2018. ENDS