Bushiri's former landlords demand R2.4 million over lease dispute

News24

a day ago

PPS Property Fund is pursuing fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri for R2.4 million in legal costs following a breach of lease agreement for his ECG church.
Court action follows breach of lease agreement for his ECG church building.
Bushiri fled to Malawi in 2020, violating bail conditions on criminal charges.
Fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri faces fresh legal troubles as landlords of his controversial Enlightened Christian Gathering Church (ECG) building seek a writ of execution against his assets to recover R2.4 million in legal costs.
PPS Property Fund has filed an application to compel Bushiri to pay the cost of the lawsuit following a breach of lease agreement dispute that has been unfolding before the Johannesburg High Court since May 2024.
The dispute arose when the company initially approached the Master of the High Court in Johannesburg seeking a ruling to attach Bushiri's known property in Blue Hills after he could not pay more than R1 million when their lease agreement with him turned sour.
This led to them obtaining a court order to wind up Bushiri's estate for breach of agreement, but the company is pursuing parallel actions for legal costs.
Shepherd Bushiri shall be liable to pay the costs of the legal action without deduction or set-off and free of commission and bank costs as follows: consecutive monthly payments in the amount of no less than R2.4 million.
Legal document
In its initial application, the company stipulated that Bushiri failed to make payments and that this was a breach.
'Our endeavour to collect the undisputed indebtedness has a protracted history involving a variety of execution attempts, as well as diligent and persistent engagement with Shepherd Bushiri Ministries. As such, in an attempt to expedite resolution in the quest to avoid further proceedings or liquidation proceedings, all such attempts and engagement have proved to be of no avail,' reads the initial application.
They further highlight that Bushiri was aware of the defaults that were communicated to him and of the process needed to remedy the situation.
'He is commercially insolvent insofar as he is unable to settle his debts to creditors as and when required to do so. The respondent is unable to make and conclude management decisions, as he is required to do.
His conduct presents a total disregard for the interests of creditors and, particularly, the claim of the applicant as underlined in these proceedings.
We have exhausted all reasonable attempts and efforts to engage him and provide him with a fair opportunity to settle his indebtedness towards us,' reads the document.
The company also states that it seeks a winding-up of Bushiri's assets as a primary measure to recoup its losses.
Bushiri and his wife, Mary, fled South Africa in 2020 while out on bail for numerous criminal charges. Despite being granted conditional release, they violated their bail terms and left the country under unclear circumstances.
They were later located in Malawi, prompting South Africa to formally request their extradition.