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By IOL Reporter 
1 hour ago
Cape Town – Enlightened church leader Christian Gathering Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary have left the country, defying their strict bail conditions.
They were only allowed to travel within Gauteng and the Northwest until the case was finalized after the Pretoria Magistrates Court granted them a bond of 200,000 rand each on 4 November.
The couple, who are now in Malawi, and their three co-defendants face fraud and money laundering charges related to an investment plan valued at approximately R102 million after being arrested in October.
Explaining why they left the country, Bushiri said in a statement on Facebook upon arrival in Malawi that they fear for their safety and want various demands met before returning to stand trial.
In self-proclaimed news by the prophet… Shepherd Bushiri, the megachurch founder accused of fraud in South Africa, skipped bail in Malawi. I wonder how the South African authorities allowed that to happen. pic.twitter.com/RixTS0E7vT
– Joseph Cotterill (@jsphctrl) November 14, 2020
“I would like to inform the general public that my wife, Mary, and I are temporarily in our home country, Malawi, due to security concerns since 2015, matters that worsened when we were released on bail,” the statement said. read.
“There have been clear and obvious attempts to have me, my wife and family killed, and despite our various attempts to inform the authorities, there has never been any state protection.
“Our arrival in Malawi, therefore, is a tactical retreat by the Republic of South Africa aimed solely at preserving our lives.
” The attempts have intensified with the recent waves of arrests and detentions that we feel the only way to clear our names under the law is to make sure our lives are preserved.
“My wife and I firmly believe in our innocence, but this cannot be proven if our lives are not preserved. We have to be alive to bear witness to our innocence. “
PROPHET BUSHIRI’S STATEMENT ON ARRIVAL IN MALAWI I would like to inform the general public that my wife, Mary, and …
Posted by Prophet Shepherd Bushiri on Friday, November 13, 2020
As part of their strict bail conditions, Bushiri and his wife had to surrender the Centurion title as collateral. They were also not allowed to make any comments at their religious services about the witnesses, the prosecution team and those involved in the case.
All the defendants had to report to a nearby police station on Mondays and Fridays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
“Defendants number four and five (the Bushiris) are prohibited from traveling anywhere else in the Republic of South Africa. They can only travel within Gauteng and North West Province until the case is finalized, ”said Justice Thandi Theledi.
MESS
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