Bushiri granted Bail, His Luxurious Lifestyle and How he got into Trouble

Shepherd Bushiri also known as Major 1 or Prophet Bushiri is a Malawian Christian preacher, motivational speaker, businessman and author of the book “Make millions in FOREX trading. He is the founder and leader of Enlightened Christian Gathering, ECG which is a non-denominational evangelical church with its headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. He is well known for his flamboyant lifestyle and runs a global investment company known as Shepherd Bushiri investments based in Sandton and Johannesburg with interests in mining, real estate, an airline and other entrepreneurial entreprises. According to Bushiri, he ventured into business to support his family as he does not believe that the church must support his family.

Major 1 is not free from controversies ranging from adultery, paternity, non-payment for clothes, making unproven claims of curing HIV and bringing dead back to life. In 2018, Botswana 🇧🇼 government closed down a branch of Bushiri’s church in Gaborone due to the church’s use of “miracle money”. This is promise of money appearing as if by magic which the government said that it is against Botswana’s laws. Therefore going forward, it was announced that Bushiri who now lives in South Africa would need visa to enter Botswana despite Malawians not usually needing visa.

Recently in 2020, Prophet Bushiri, his wife Mary Bushiri and 3 others were involved in fraud and money laundering to the tune of R102 million. They were arrested by Directorate for Priority Investigations (HAWKS) and detained roughly for 2 weeks in Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre, Pretoria while awaiting their bail hearing verdict. However, they were eventually granted bail by the Pretoria Magistrate court at R200,000 each. Recall that in 2019, they were arrested by HAWKS and were granted bail at R100,000 each. In late August, 2020; 2 women accused Bushiri of raping them after they detailed their own personal encounters with him.

Their bail conditions include: 

1.) Bushiri couple can only travel within Gauteng and the Northwest and are barred from applying for any travel documents.

2.) The Bushiri’s have been asked to handover their  title deeds of their property.

3.) They are expected to be back in court on the 6th November, 2020 because the accused number 1 will be applying for bail.

4.) They are also barred from making threats to congregants and those who don’t support them.

The magistrate Thandi maintained that bail granted to an accused person does not mean that they are likely to be acquitted or convicted, similarly when bail is denied.