Shepherd Bushiri Defends His Escape From South Africa, Claims Police Tried to Extort Him
Self-proclaimed prophet and fugitive Shepherd Bushiri has doubled down on his dramatic departure from South Africa, insisting that slipping out of the country while on bail was the “best decision” he ever made.
Bushiri and his wife, Mary, fled in 2020 while facing fraud and money-laundering charges, defying court-imposed bail conditions. He maintains that his escape was not only necessary but justified.
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Bushiri Says He Left South Africa to “Save Himself”
Speaking during an interview with eNCA, Bushiri claimed he had every right to depart illegally because he believed his life and freedom were under threat.
“The best thing I did was leave the country… There is an international law that allows you. If you are a refugee running from war, you are allowed to leave unlawfully,”
he argued.
The Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) founder insists he considered himself a “refugee,” alleging he was being politically targeted and unfairly treated.
Claims of Extortion by Hawks Generals
Bushiri went further, repeating long-standing allegations that senior law-enforcement officials attempted to extort him during his time in South Africa.
He named former Hawks head Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya and another official identified as “Paul Ramoloko,” alleging they were central to efforts to solicit money from him.
According to Bushiri, one of his bodyguards relayed that a meeting was arranged on a farm where he was allegedly asked to pay between R2 million and R3 million to “make his problems disappear.”
“For your boss to be free, if you can arrange something… that will be given to him,”
Bushiri quoted the official as saying.
He maintains these experiences reinforced his decision to flee.
Bushiri Claims Massive Growth in His South African Following
Despite being a fugitive from South African authorities, Bushiri says his religious influence in the country has only grown stronger since his escape.
He claims that ECG’s South African membership has surged dramatically — even more than when he lived in the country.
“Our church actually grew five times more than when I was in South Africa,”
he said, asserting that his congregation now stands at more than two million registered members.
According to Bushiri, ECG remains active in major cities including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town.