Bushiri and Wife Charged with 350 Counts in R73 Million Fraud Case
Self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri, his wife Mary, and seven alleged accomplices are facing 350 charges, including fraud, money laundering, and racketeering. After years of investigation by the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has secured a trial date, setting the stage for a significant legal battle. This trial could potentially reveal the alleged inner workings of the Bushiri empire and its extensive financial dealings
The trial is scheduled to begin on 21 October 2024 at the Pretoria High Court and is expected to run until 22 November 2024. A month has been allocated for the hearing, and Justice John Holland-Muter has granted a separation of trial application. The state plans to call at least 43 witnesses to testify against Bushiri and his co-accused. Should the trial not conclude within the allocated period, additional dates have been set aside for the first quarter of 2025.
The indictment obtained by *City Press* outlines a complex series of financial crimes allegedly committed by Bushiri and his associates. According to senior state prosecutor Desire Rosenblatt, between February 2017 and March 2019, the accused engaged in a pattern of racketeering that involved fraudulent financial dealings and money laundering. Some of the notable transactions listed in the indictment include:
– Transfers and deposits amounting to R73,726,610
– A R200,000 deposit into the FNB account of Shepherd Bushiri Investments
– R215,000 in transfers to GTT Wealth
– A R25,000 payment to Bushiri’s gym
– A R1 million deposit for Bushiri’s Rolls-Royce
– R8,000 deposited into the account of the Bushiris’ daughter, Raphaella
One significant day, 1 April 2017, reportedly saw R12,079,080.13 moved across 21 transactions, underscoring the scale of the alleged fraud.
The charges against Bushiri and his associates stem from an alleged investment scheme that was promoted under various names, such as the Shepherd Bushiri Trading Platform and SB Trading Platform Millionaires Club. These schemes leveraged Bushiri’s role as a religious leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church to attract investors. The scheme, presented at seminars and broadcasts on the Prophetic Channel, promised investors a doubling of their capital within a month, with a minimum investment of R100,000.
Despite not being registered as a financial institution, the investment scheme reportedly provided investors with a 15-page consortium agreement, promoting a false sense of legitimacy. Payments were sometimes made in cash at the ECG Church premises in Pretoria. The scheme also extended beyond South Africa, with Bushiri allegedly promoting the investment during a church event and a conference in Dallas, Texas, in July 2017. Two agents, Yumoke Oyedele and Peter Eshiett, are named as the individuals responsible for collecting investments both in South Africa and the United States.
Financial analysis of the scheme found no evidence of legitimate investments in commodities or other products. Instead, the funds were allegedly used to cover personal expenses, including hotel stays, rental payments, clothing, and gym fees. The indictment reveals that Bushiri withdrew almost R10 million in cash in a single day, and his R1 million Rolls-Royce deposit, registered under the Prophetic Channel, was later sold with the proceeds allegedly used to repay investors.
The trial could be amended to exclude charges linked to the Bushiris pending their extradition from Malawi. The state also aims to demonstrate that the alleged Ponzi scheme reached the United States. Bushiri’s escape from South Africa in late 2020 while out on bail adds another layer of complexity to this case.
Justice Minister Thembisile Simelane recently emphasized the government’s commitment to securing Bushiri’s extradition from Malawi. As the legal battle unfolds, this trial promises to be one of the most significant in recent South African history, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the Bushiri family and their followers.
