Mbabane: Self-proclaimed Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary have left South Africa and are currently in Malawi, defying their bail conditions.
In a statement on Bushiri’s official Facebook page, he said they left for safety concerns and that despite reporting to police, there has been no protection from the state.
“There have been clear and evident attempts to have myself, my wife and my family killed and despite our several attempts to report to authorities, there has never been state protection, he said.
“Our coming to Malawi, hence, is a tactical withdrawal from the Republic of South Africa solely meant to preserve our lives.”
“These attempts have been heightened with recent spates of arrests and detentions that we felt the only way for us to clear our names before the law is to ensure that our lives are preserved. My wife and I strongly believe in our innocence but this cannot be proved if our lives are not preserved. We have to be alive to testify to our innocence.
As we stand here, we were arrested in 2019 on allegedly money laundering charges and it’s getting to two years now without trial because the State is not ready to give it,” reads Bushiri statement.
Earlier this month the couple were released on R200, 000 bail, with the magistrate ruling that they were not a flight risk.
The couple is facing money laundering charges and blames the state of dragging its feet for not allowing them to clear their names.
Bushiri claimed he and his wife are being persecuted in South Africa. The pair were not allowed to leave the country and was supposed to report to the nearest police station each Friday and Monday.
The National Prosecuting Authority could not confirm whether they have left the country.
