Two men accused of attacking a man in Pretoria East in an alleged racist attack have been released on R8 000 each.
Alleged racist attack
Karel Prinsloo and Johannes Stassen were on Wednesday granted bail in the Pretoria Magistrates Court, after being arrested last month for allegedly assaulting 30-year-old Thato Lepinka.
The pair face charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property and criminal damage.
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It is alleged that on December 11, 2022, Prinsloo and Stassen assaulted Lepinka and damaged her vehicle, a Volkswagen Golf 7, in the parking lot of the Willoway Shopping Center in Garsfontein in Pretoria.
Collateral argument
Sentencing on the bail application was reserved last week, after Magistrate Abel Mphahlele heard arguments from the defense and the state.
The state opposed Prinsloo and Stassen’s bail application, arguing it would interfere with the investigation and intimidate witnesses.
The court also heard that CCTV footage of the alleged racist attack had been deleted before investigating officers could access it.
Prinsloo and Stassen, among their bail objections, said a long stay in jail would jeopardize their livelihoods and would leave them unable to care for their children.
In granting bail, Magistrate Mphahlele found that it was in the interests of justice for the accused to be released on bail, and imposed strict bail conditions on them.
Prinsloo and Stassen are not allowed to intimidate witnesses or interfere with police investigations.
The accused will return to court on January 11, 2023.
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