[ad_1]
‘Prophet’ Shepherd Bushiri of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Veli Nhlapo)
Months ago, ‘prophet’ Shepherd Bushiri, leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering, was mocked for his prophecy that 2020 would be a ‘great year’. Bushiri and his wife Mary appeared in Pretoria Magistrates Court on charges related to fraud and money laundering worth R102 million on Wednesday, the couple’s second court appearance in two weeks.
In an interview published On the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) website, church leader Shepherd Bushiri says that men of God “who have been blessed with a fortune” are often vilified “but if you read the Bible, you will notice that men of God they were rich “.
Bushiri, 37, and his wife Mary, 39, appeared in Pretoria Magistrates Court on charges of fraud and money laundering worth R102 million on Wednesday after they were arrested by the Hawks the day before.
Hundreds of parishioners were reported to have gathered outside the court to support the controversial “prophet”, whom they call “Mayor” or “Dad.”
Bushiri has been referred to as one of the richest religious leaders on the continent, worth an estimated $ 150 million, and is often depicted with his private jet or luxury vehicles. ECG operates in several African countries, with 110 branches and one million faithful in South Africa, Bushiri He said in recent court documents.
The Sandton-based company Shepherd Bushiri Investments of Bushiri has interests in mining, real estate and an airline, according to the ECG website. In 2018, Bushiri opened the Sparkling Waters Hotel and Spa in Magaliesburg, one of eight hotels it purportedly owns around the world.
“According to Bushiri, he ventured into the business to support his family as he does not believe the church should support his family,” the ECG website states.
Bushiri, who has claimed he can walk on air and perform miracles like curing people from HIV, has often been accused of defrauding church members, most notably by rival evangelical pastor Mboro Motsoeneng.
The NPA has not released details of the latest allegations against Bushiri and the couple’s bail hearing was continuing at the time of writing, but the Hawks said that Willah Mudolo and Zethu Mudolo were also arrested on Saturday, October 17 at the same time. case.
Willah Mudolo is the founder of the African Development Funding Group and, according to his LinkedIn Y Personal website is a big supporter of former first lady Tobeka Zuma’s foundation. He too Guides real estate development company Rising Estates.
According to City press, In 2017, Bushiri told parishioners that they could make a 50% profit in 30 days if they joined a “commodity investment opportunity,” with a minimum investment starting at R 100,000.
The post said church members flocked to invest and arrived at church on allotted days with cash, as reported. Those who were unable to deliver the cash were recommended to deposit their investments in Rising Estates, run by close associates of Bushiri.
City press he cited several church members who claimed to have invested in the scheme but had received no return.
According to ECG spokesman Ephraim Nyondo, the Hawks asked to meet with “Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and Prophetess Mary Bushiri” on Tuesday morning to discuss Rising Estates.
Police arrested Mary, a director of Shepherd Bushiri Investments, at a Sandton property and her husband, whom the Hawks said turned himself in with an “entourage of lawyers” after “attempting to evade the team.”
In a separate case, the couple were arrested on charges of fraud and money laundering, involving more than R15 million, in February 2019. In that case, they appeared at a pre-trial conference last week and the case is scheduled to be heard in the Pretoria High Court in May and June 2021.
Also included in that case is the couple’s alleged illegal violation of exchange control regulations for purchasing a 1984 Gulfstream jet for R19 million in cash.
Thousands of parishioners attend Bushiri’s sermons and in recent years he has reportedly filled the FNB stadium during his “cross service” on New Year’s Eve.
In 2019, the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities said it was not responsible for a stampede at its Pretoria Showgrounds church the previous year, where three people were killed and 17 others were injured.
Although he expressed his willingness to submit to the law, the “prophet” has dismissed the various accusations against him. He claims that his detractors are jealous of his church’s success or focus on his wealth due to racism.
“I am a businessman and that is separate from being a prophet. My prosperity comes from private companies. Such questions are not asked by white church leaders, but when an African thrives, then it is a problem, ”he said. BBC in 2018.
Videos of Bushiri telling parishioners that he anticipated 2020 would be a “great year” have circulated widely on social media. However, part of the year could see the Bushiris awaiting trial in prison, as prosecutors argued Wednesday that the couple should be denied bail. DM
