Shepherd Bushiri's Case Postponed To Wednesday.
The case against Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary Bushiri, has been postponed to
Wednesday 06 February 2019.
The postponement was granted for the defence lawyers to prepare for a better application.
This means that the couple have been taken back to prison, and may apply for bail only
on Wednesday when they re-appear.
Shepherd and Mary Bushiri were charged with alleged fraud and money laundering.
On Friday 01 February 2019, the couple were arrested by South Africa’s Directorate for
Priority Investigations, HAWKS, for alleged fraud and money laundering.
The HAWKS said that, the case against the couple was linked to alleged offences of fraud
and money laundering, as well as the contravention of South Africa’s Prevention of Organised
Crime Act, which had been committed in 2015.
The contravention of the Act was in relation to Exchange Control Regulations relating to
foreign currency of $1,147,200.
Last year, reports emerged that the Bushiris had been sending about R15 million per month
to Malawi, their home country.
The money was allegedly being transported in their private jet.
The couple made a brief appearance in the Pretoria Special Commercial Crimes Court.
Outside the court building, throngs of Bushiri’s followers gathered calling for his release.
Police vehicles transporting Bushiri and his wife, sped out of the court premises after
their case was postponed, spurring the waiting crowd even more with chants calling for their
release.
The couple were escorted back to prison in different vehicles.
An unmarked white car drove out first, followed by the second one transporting the wife, and
a third one followed, with Shepherd Bushiri visible from the back of the vehicle.
Pandemonium broke out among the fuming crowd after it was announced that the couple will
spend two more nights in police custody, before their fate is decided.
Bushiri's supporters, who address him as "The Major One", “Our Father", or “Papa”,
have vowed to boycott the upcoming elections in South Africa, if he and his wife are not
freed, and the charges dropped.
Many of the followers and supporters who showed solidarity for the Bushiris included Pastor
Mboro.
Also, the Black First Land First movement, BLF, has thrown its support behind Shepherd
Bushiri, who is facing charges of fraud and money laundering.
The organisation believes that, Bushiri is being targeted, because he is a successful
young black person, who has challenged the status quo in the religious space.
The BLF leader, Andile Mngxitama, says his fellow members will be in court to support
the Bushiris.
According to Mngxitama, this appears is a high-handed, and targeted attack on Shepherd
Bushiri.
He is a black man, who is coming here as a young man too.
He has really made a name for himself.
Black First Land First will be there to support him.
We are not going to allow any black person to be lynched.
On Sunday 03 February 2018, the ECG church resumed services at the Pretoria Show-grounds
for the first time, following the 28 December 2018 stampede, which claimed the lives of
three female individuals.
At least 17 other congregants were injured, as they ran for shelter during a heavy rainstorm.
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