THE Cabinet in South Africa has welcomed the ruling by a high court in Malawi, which paves the way for the extradition of fugitive self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri to South Africa to face justice.
Khumbuzo Ntshaveni, Minister in the Presidency and Cabinet spokesperson, said: “Cabinet welcomed the ruling by the Republic of Malawi’s Chief Resident Magistrate Court that Shepherd and Mary Bushiri be extradited to South Africa to stand trial on multiple criminal charges including rape, contravening the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002 (Act 37 of 2002), the Bank Act, 1990 (Act 94 of 1990), Immigration Act, 2002 (Act 13 of 2002) and violating their bail conditions.
“This ruling shows that no one can run away from the rule of law and also reaffirms the judicial independence, international cooperation and mutual trust between the South African and Malawian legal institutions. We are aware that the Bushiris have indicated their intention to appeal. However, we are confident that we have a strong case against them. South Africa stands ready to collaborate with INTERPOL to coordinate the transfer arrangements and logistics to ensure that they are brought to South Africa to stand trial.”
The walls began closing in on Bushiri and his wife Mary after a Malawian court delivered a bombshell ruling on Wednesday that could see the charismatic church leader and his spouse returned to South Africa in handcuffs.
The once-untouchable religious power couple, who fled South Africa under the cover of darkness in November 2020 after being arrested on fraud charges, now faces a reckoning that has sent shockwaves through their millions of devoted followers.
South Africa’s cabinet celebrated the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Court’s decision that the fugitives must face the music back home.
The Bushiris, who lived a lavish lifestyle that included private jets, luxury cars, and sprawling properties, built their empire on the back of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church, where Shepherd preached a “prosperity gospel” to packed arenas. Now, the couple faces charges including rape, fraud, and money laundering tied to an investment scheme worth R102 million (approximately $5.3 million).
“The wealth was obscene, the faith of followers exploited,” said a former church member who requested anonymity. “Many gave their last penny believing in miracles that never materialized.”
The dramatic saga took a stunning turn when the Bushiris mysteriously escaped South Africa while on bail, slipping past authorities and border controls in what some officials privately described as an “embarrassing security failure.” Their midnight dash to Malawi, Shepherd’s homeland, left South African authorities red-faced and determined to bring them to justice.
While the extradition ruling represents a significant victory for South African prosecutors, the battle is far from over. The Bushiris have been granted a 30-day stay and remain free on bail as they prepare to appeal the decision to Malawi’s High Court.
“This is a remarkable victory,” Bushiri defiantly claimed on Instagram, focusing on charges the court reportedly dismissed rather than those that were upheld.
South African authorities remain confident. “We have a strong case against them,” the cabinet statement asserted. Should the appeal fail, INTERPOL will coordinate with South African police to bring the Bushiris back to face a justice system they thought they had escaped.
For now, the self-styled prophet who once claimed supernatural powers finds himself in a predicament no miracle can solve—caught between the hammer of international law and the anvil of mounting evidence.
“The day of reckoning approaches,” said a South African prosecutor close to the case. “No one outruns justice forever—not even those who claim to speak for God.”
