Controversial Malawian Prophet Shephard Bushiri allegedly accused the South African Police Services (SAPS) of wanting a bribe of R10 million.
The founder of the mega-church Enlighten Christian Gathering (ECG) who had many branches in South Africa made claims that the police force wanted a bribe from him due to his alleged money-laundering case.
As reported by news publication IOL, In October of 2022 Shephard and his wife Mary Bushiri were arrested by SAPS on charges of alleged money laundering. The news publication adds that due to this case, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera hired a private jet to smuggle them out of the country.
After fleeing from South Africa the couple appeared in Malawi court for allegedly stealing R106 million from Rising Estate by obtaining money from congregants under the premise of a fraudulent investment and not paying them.
The Malawian newspaper Nyasa Times reported that during a court cross-examination, Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Sibongile Mzinyathi revealed that KPMG was engaged to audit the couple’s account but was unable to locate the money.
MDN news online publication on X (formerly Twitter) posted a video of Bushiri where he explained why he and his wife left South Africa alluding to the fact that he was innocent and that he became a target because his a foreigner.
He says,“I just want to say, it’s so heartbreaking. As a man of God, I have forgiven them and their actions. I hope if they are humans that they will apologise over such behaviour. We are here to expose more things and to show them that actually they did all these things because I am a foreigner in South Africa. My ministry was growing too big, and this was part of xenophobic jealousy and more other things,” he said.
Bushiri demands that SA government must apologise for ‘falsely’ arresting him and his wife pic.twitter.com/bvkL8Oqf56
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) March 13, 2024
This video received a mixed reaction from X users as some felt he needs to be prosecuted for his alleged crimes.
One user commented:
He’s taking SA for granted, first he must pay back all the money he looted from unemployed South Africans
— Siya Ndlumbini 🧭 (@Siya_Ndlumbini) March 13, 2024
Another user who can be assumed to be one of his followers said:
Speak Papa ! Speak 😃
— Oluwaseyi John (@PrivateJay01) March 13, 2024
One user who is in support of the self-proclaimed prophet adds words of encouragement
“We are with you Major 1. No one will keep you away from your people in SA” God is fighting for our Major one” Major one will come back to SA in Jesus name”
— Soso Spayidile (@soso_spayi) March 13, 2024
Another user commented:
yeah ne South Africa is a play ground straight
— Okuhle (@Okuhle_CFM) March 13, 2024
Also see: Internet reacts to Cyril Ramaphosa allegedly receiving ‘voting prayers’
