The police have applied for a warrant of arrest for prophet Shepherd Bushiri after he was implicated in cases of intimidation, threats and assault involving former congregant Martin Antonio.

Antonio alleged that on July 20 last year he was having supper at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria with two friends when a man in a white jersey photographed him without his consent.

He said when the police, who arrived the scene, questioned him, he told them that he was sent by Bushiri's legal adviser "Chuma" to take pictures of Antonio because the man of the cloth wanted them.

Antonio opened the case of intimidation and threats against Bushiri.

When the police went to the Sheraton Hotel six days later to obtain a statement from Bushiri, they were prevented from doing so by his body guards, one of whom allegedly threatened to stab the officers with a knife, according to police in their statement to the NPA.

They were later informed by Ivan Khoza, one of Bushiri's legal advisers, that they should obtain the statement from Bushiri the next day at the Southern Sun Hotel, also in Pretoria.

Bushiri and Chuma sent them packing and said the court could do whatever they wanted.

Bushiri's lawyer Terrance Ntsako Baloyi, of Baloyi Ntsako Attorneys, declined to comment.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokeswoman Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed that police have applied for a warrant to arrest Bushiri.

"The prosecutor asked them to go and attend to certain aspects of the case before he could issue the warrant for his arrest," she said.

According to documents seen by Sunday World, the application for Bushiri's warrant was made by Colonel Tsebe of Sunnyside police station to the chief prosecutor of the NPA's Pretoria cluster, Advocate Matric Luphondo.

In his reply, Luphondo asked the police to obtain a comprehensive statement of the complainant.

He also said they must obtain witness statements for all of the incidents, medical reports, YouTube and Facebook footage with the relevant chain of evidence and the affidavits from the officials who downloaded it.

Luphondo also told the police that consideration should be given, after careful studying of the matter, as to whether the photographer who took the pictures should be warned.

"Are there any witnesses who saw the fight with the table knife and what is meant by fight. Address the obstruction by the body guards.

"The evidence regarding the availability or non availability of surveillance cameras at certain spots or area of the hotel must be approached with caution.

"In fact, the police must satisfy themselves and not just rely on the evidence; it appears that Bushiri is a client of the hotel. Perhaps consider getting the other dockets and present them to me for further attention... Download pictures on the phone if confiscated," read his recommendations.

Sunday World learnt that Luphondo and the police met this week to further discuss the warrant application.

Mjonondwane confirmed Luphondo met with the police to discuss the matter but declined to give detailed information about the gathering.

When the police went to the Sheraton Hotel six days later to obtain a statement from Bushiri, they were prevented from doing so by his body guards, one of whom allegedly threatened to stab the officers with a knife, according to police in their statement to the NPA.

They were later informed by Ivan Khoza, one of Bushiri's legal advisers, that they should obtain the statement from Bushiri the next day at the Southern Sun Hotel, also in Pretoria.

Bushiri and Chuma sent them packing and said the court could do whatever they wanted.

Bushiri's lawyer Terrance Ntsako Baloyi, of Baloyi Ntsako Attorneys, declined to comment.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokeswoman Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed that police have applied for a warrant to arrest Bushiri.

"The prosecutor asked them to go and attend to certain aspects of the case before he could issue the warrant for his arrest," she said.

According to documents seen by Sunday World, the application for Bushiri's warrant was made by Colonel Tsebe of Sunnyside police station to the chief prosecutor of the NPA's Pretoria cluster, Advocate Matric Luphondo.

In his reply, Luphondo asked the police to obtain a comprehensive statement of the complainant.

He also said they must obtain witness statements for all of the incidents, medical reports, YouTube and Facebook footage with the relevant chain of evidence and the affidavits from the officials who downloaded it.

Luphondo also told the police that consideration should be given, after careful studying of the matter, as to whether the photographer who took the pictures should be warned.

"Are there any witnesses who saw the fight with the table knife and what is meant by fight. Address the obstruction by the body guards.

"The evidence regarding the availability or non availability of surveillance cameras at certain spots or area of the hotel must be approached with caution.

"In fact, the police must satisfy themselves and not just rely on the evidence; it appears that Bushiri is a client of the hotel. Perhaps consider getting the other dockets and present them to me for further attention... Download pictures on the phone if confiscated," read his recommendations.

Sunday World learnt that Luphondo and the police met this week to further discuss the warrant application.

Mjonondwane confirmed Luphondo met with the police to discuss the matter but declined to give detailed information about the gathering.