Mthatha - Three people accused of burning a statue of ANC stalwart Oliver Tambo at a heritage site in Nkantolo village appeared in the Bizana Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, Eastern Cape police said.
The case was postponed to December 2 for an official bail application, said Lieutenant Khaya Tonjeni.
“The parties involved agreed on this date as there is intention to charge the suspects under schedule six. The court is awaiting a certificate from the (director of public prosecutions).”
In terms of schedules five and six of the Criminal Procedure Act an accused must show it is in the interests of justice to be released on bail. According to schedule six however they also have to show that exceptional circumstances exist to justify their release.
The three face charges including arson. They were arrested on October 24 after a task team appointed by the Eastern Cape provincial commissioner investigated the incident.
The statue, which formed part of a heritage site, was burnt on October 22. Tambo, born in Bizana, was among the founding members of the African National Congress Youth League in 1944 and became its first national secretary. He became ANC president and died of a stroke in April 1993.
Sapa