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Shepherd Bushiri has fled the country, despite the bail conditions expressly prohibiting any form of international travel.
Frennie Shivambu, Gallo Images
- IPID has confirmed that it is investigating a complaint of extortion against the police by Shepherd Bushiri.
- However, IPID has said that the investigation stalled because Bushiri was too busy to comment on the claim.
- The EWN reports that Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said he did not believe the pastor and his wife should have been released on bail.
- Bushiri and his wife, Mary, broke the terms of their bail and said they are now in Malawi.
The Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID) said evangelist Shepherd Bushiri’s lawyer filed a complaint that the police were extorting his client, but the investigation stalled because Bushiri was too busy to comment.
IPID spokeswoman Ndileka Cola said that in 2018 Bushiri’s attorney opened a case of alleged police corruption or extortion on behalf of the preacher in Sunnyside, Pretoria.
He alleged that the agents investigating the rape allegations against Bushiri were trying to extort money from him to make the charges “disappear.”
As part of the allegations against the police, IPID needed Bushiri to provide information and acquire witness statements.
However, Bushiri’s unavailability “due to his busy schedule” made it difficult to continue.
“As such, his limited cooperation, his busy schedule and his unavailability have stalled the investigation process, as the crucial information required to proceed with the investigation process does not come from him as a victim in this matter,” Cola said.
“Mr. Bushiri has received comments on the matter, he is well aware that the investigator will proceed with his case as soon as he fully cooperates with the investigative process,” he said.
Shepherd and Mary Bushiri skipped the country last week. In a video broadcast, he said he was in Malawi for his own safety and because he would not get a fair trial because the police and the National Prosecutor’s Office were prejudiced against him.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is furious about the Bushiris fleeing from South Africa.
“We knew it was a flight risk, so I say I am very angry. I personally think that bail should not have been granted,” he told Eyewitness News.
On Saturday, Bushiri confirmed that he and his wife had fled South Africa, a serious violation of their bail conditions. He cited unconfirmed security risks and claimed he would get an unfair and racially biased judgment. He did not confirm these claims.
Bushiri, who describes himself as a prophet and is known as “Papa” or “Elder” by his enthusiastic followers, runs a major religious company, including his Prophet YouTube Channel.
The Bushiri face charges of fraud and corruption. The charges include an investigation into a 100 million rand investment plan. Church leader Enlighten Christian Gathering and his wife were out on bail of 200,000 rand each when it emerged that they had not shown up for their registration with the police on Friday, which is a requirement of their bail conditions.
Motsoaledi described the couple as “unreliable.”
“They weren’t trustworthy and once you have an unreliable person why do you think he will obey the rules because he has never obeyed them? He has never obeyed any laws in South Africa as far as we are concerned,” Motsoaledi said.
SEE | Bushiri defends his decision to flee South Africa, claims he will not get a fair trial
Bushiri sent a special public speech on his YouTube channel to explain himself to his followers in more than 70 countries around the world.
He said he had no problem with being arrested, but was appalled at the threats to his life.
Their escape has raised a number of questions about border security, cooperation between law enforcement and the Department of the Interior, while also sparking speculation that Bushiri and his wife were smuggled out of the country by Malawian President Lazarus. Chakwera, who was visiting. South Africa last week.
On Sunday, the government said the couple did not leave the country aboard the flight back from Chakwera.
Government spokeswoman Phumla Williams said the state had initiated an extradition process to bring the Bushiris back to South Africa to stand trial.
the sunday time reports that an Interpol red alert has been triggered for the Bushiris.
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