A prime official in one in every of South Africa’s largest political events has been condemned for visiting a self-proclaimed pastor who fled to Malawi after he was accused of rape and fraud.
Floyd Shivambu, secretary-general of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) social gathering of former President Jacob Zuma, retweeted footage on X of him attending an Easter service at Shepherd Bushiri’s church.
Mr Bushiri, from Malawi, was one in every of southern Africa’s greatest recognized preachers when he was arrested and charged with fraud in 2020.
After being launched on bail, he managed to flee to his residence nation in unclear circumstances. South Africa has been making an attempt to extradite him ever since.
Final month, a courtroom in Malawi backed the extradition request however Mr Bushiri and his spouse Mary, who’s going through fraud expenses, have lodged an attraction.
Mr Bushiri is a millionaire who arrange church buildings in a number of African international locations.
He’s accused of preying on poor individuals who had been determined to enhance their lives by promoting merchandise together with “miracle oil”.
The self-proclaimed prophet claims to have cured folks of HIV, made the blind see, modified the fortunes of the impoverished and, on a minimum of one event, walked on air.
Mr Bushiri has additionally been charged with rape. He and his spouse have denied any wrongdoing.
South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Improvement Mmamoloko Kubayi mentioned Shivambu’s affiliation with Mr Bushiri was “a blatant act of disrespect towards South Africa’s authorized system”.
She added that it could “embolden those that consider they will escape accountability”.
Shivambu’s personal MK social gathering additionally launched a press release to distance itself from his go to, saying he had undertaken it “in his private capability and with out the mandate or data of the social gathering”.
The social gathering added that it “condemns all types of gender-based violence and the exploitation of weak communities, particularly harmless Christian believers, by people who manipulate religion for private enrichment or to evade justice”.
In a publish on X on Saturday, Shivambu praised Mr Bushiri for his “good work”.
“Thanks my brother, Prophet Bushiri for internet hosting us and for the sort phrases,” he wrote.
“The federal government scale quantity of labor you do to economically, educationally, socially and spiritually uplift our folks is unparalleled now and in historical past.
“I do know that the management and folks of Malawi respect and cherish the so many huge programmes you do for the folks on the bottom.”
He reposted footage shared by Mr Bushiri which confirmed the self-proclaimed pastor ask tons of of worshippers at his Jesus Nation church to welcome the South African politician.
Underneath the management of former President Zuma, the newly fashioned MK social gathering got here third in final 12 months’s elections – a significant factor within the governing ANC shedding its majority for the primary time since democratic elections had been launched in 1994.
Shivambu joined the social gathering in August final 12 months from the rival Financial Freedom Fighters (EFF) and was later appointed secretary-general – one of many social gathering’s prime positions.
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