Award-winning Tsotsi star Presley Chweneyagae appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday when his case was postponed to February 27.
His lawyer, Shane Lowley, asked the magistrate for the postponement on the grounds that the defence had no documentation and statements to work with as his client was arrested the previous day.
The disclosure of documents was also needed for the setting of a trial date, he said.
Before granting the postponement, magistrate Bheki Ntshingela asked why the defence needed such a long time to receive documents that could be photocopied in a day.
Lowley explained that Chweneyagae would be travelling abroad for work and would return on February 19. The postponement would be practical, he told the court.
Chweneyagae (22) won the award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Tsotsi at the Black Movie Awards in Los Angeles last year, heading off competition from established actors including Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding and Tyrese Gibson.
Eddie Mbau, who is involved in the movie industry, was there to offer his support for the actor, as was Chweneyagae’s mother.
Before the movie star appeared in court, fans approached him to say ”Hi” and offer words of support.
He was arrested on Tuesday for alleged fraud, accused of driving with a fake Ivorian licence that had been doctored to look like an international driver’s licence.
He is out on R2 000 bail. — Sapa