Facebook / Shepherd Bushiri
Bushiri supporters blame ‘the devil’ for fraud charges
‘Prophet’ Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary face charges of fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act
Facebook / Shepherd Bushiri
The supporters of self-proclaimed Prophet Shepherd Bushiri have come to his defence, claiming the fraud and money laundering charges against him are the work of the ‘devil’ and not greed.
Bushiri and his wife Mary, appeared before the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Pretoria on Wednesday, 21 October 2020, a day after the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, pounced on them.
Scores of supporters gathered outside the court, holding placards and chanting on the street.
“We are here to support our prophet, major one, who is the only prophet in the whole world. He is a man of God and I believe and I trust that he is not guilty, he is the victim of the plot of the so-called devil,” one supporter said to eNCA.
Another supporter, this time speaking to the SABC, said Bushiri and his wife were innocent of the charges.
“Do you think if he was stealing money from the church and the people, would he have so many followers here? All I can say is he is a true man of God…I can tell you this man is a sincere and honest man. He loves his family, he loves his church,” the woman said.
More legal drama for the Bushiris
The couple faces allegations of fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, to tune of R102 million. Bushiri is said to have handed himself over to the authorities while his wife was arrested.
The couple’s legal troubles seem to know no end – they appeared in court earlier over a R15 million money laundering scheme and the case was postponed to 2021.
Two women have also accused the flashy pastor of rape.
“Let us keep on standing with our spiritual parents by putting them in prayer. We wish to inform you that they are still with the Hawks, as announced earlier, but the hand of the Lord is with them, they are in high spirit and they have nothing in their minds apart from the thought of you and the church,” a statement on Bushiri’s Facebook page read.
Another couple was arrested in connection to the Bushiris’ case on Saturday, 17 October 2020.
“The two, Willah Mudolo and Zethu Mudolo, have since appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court and their case was postponed to 30 October 2020 for formal bail application,” the Hawks said.
