MALAWIAN prophet Shepherd Bushiri has made startling accusations against the South African Police Service (SAPS), alleging that they demanded a 10 million rand (about $538,000) bribe from him and his wife, Mary. The self-proclaimed prophet further claimed that they were targeted due to their status as foreigners in South Africa and the exponential growth of their ministry.
The Bushiris, who were arrested in October 2022, reportedly fled South Africa and sought refuge in Malawi, where they were smuggled out of the country aboard Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera’s hired jet. This week, the couple appeared in a Malawian court facing charges related to the alleged theft of 106 million rand through an entity called Rising Estate. The entity purportedly collected money from congregants under the pretext of investment, with no payouts to congregants. However, a KPMG audit revealed that none of the 106 million rand was deposited into the Bushiris’ bank accounts.
During court proceedings, South African province of Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Sibongile Mzinyathi explained that the government engaged KPMG to audit the couple’s accounts but failed to trace the whereabouts of the money. Bushiri’s lawyer, Wapona Kita, emphasised the immense shame faced by his clients, who have been labelled as thieves.
In an eight-minute video shared on his social media pages, Bushiri detailed the persecution they allegedly faced in South Africa following their arrest. He claimed to have received death threats and survived attempts on their lives, which he linked to certain government officials.
Expressing his forgiveness towards his persecutors, Bushiri denounced corruption and stated that he refused to succumb to bribery despite the alleged pressure from the police. He attributed the ordeal to xenophobic jealousy and other motives stemming from the growth of his ministry.
The legal proceedings regarding the Bushiris’ case continue in court, with ongoing scrutiny and public interest surrounding the allegations and their subsequent denials.