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The government has denied allegations that South African officials helped Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church leader Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary bypass the country.
The couple fled to Malawi after being granted bail and said their escape was a “tactical withdrawal” to “save their lives”.
“There have been clear and obvious attempts to have me, my wife and my family killed, and despite our various attempts to inform the authorities, there has never been any state protection,” Bushiri said at the time.
They face charges of theft, fraud and money laundering.
While South Africans, including government officials, were left with questions about how they managed to escape, the Sunday Independent alleged that government officials assisted the couple.
According to reports, “insiders” at the government security group told the publication that the Bushiri allegedly left on President Lazarus Chakwera’s plane last Friday in a plot involving top Malawian politicians and government officials. and South Africa.
Also read: Bushiri does not care about the lost house, he says ‘my life is more important’
In response to the allegations, spokeswoman Phumla Williams said the South African government was working closely with the Republic of Malawi in an attempt to extradite the couple.
She denied the allegations in the report that government officials helped the couple escape.
“On Sunday, the Sunday Independent published a story containing false claims and claims from so-called unidentified sources. This story was intended to embarrass and implicate the Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Naledi Pandor, and anonymous ministers in crimes and conspiracy for which the Sunday Independent has presented absolutely no evidence and will not be able to substantiate. Last weekend they came forward with unsubstantiated allegations that Lesotho had been an escape route used by the Bushiri out of South Africa, ”Williams said.
“If this publication wants to serve the national interest and ensure that justice is done, like any other citizen who observes that a crime is being committed, it is obliged to report such information to the nearest police station. In fact, the Government encourages all South Africans in possession of information about crimes in progress to report to law enforcement agencies, regardless of the status of the person who committed the crime. “
He said the government remained committed to investigating the matter and using all legal instruments to bring the Bushiris back to South Africa and face the criminal charges brought before them.
Also read: Malawi prosecutors will appeal the ruling that freed the Bushiris
After their escape last week, it was speculated that Chakwera visited the country to search for the couple, but Malawi has also denied the allegations.
“The Government of Malawi is aware and grateful that the South African government recently issued a public statement, exonerating President Chakwera of the false accusations dominating the South African media that his presidential plane was used as a conduit for the trafficking of two Malawians wanted by South Africa authorities, ”he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa awaits a report on the couple’s escape.
He said the government would take action once it knew what actually happened.
“The Bushiri issue has concerned us all very much. I’m waiting for a report, a detailed report on the entire Bushiri saga, that I will get, and then we will see what action needs to be taken because it should never have happened the way it did. I’ll get the report tomorrow or something like that, ”he told eNCA last week.
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