Latest news with #ShepherdBushiri
News24
01-07-2025
- Business
- News24
Bushiri's former landlords demand R2.4 million over lease dispute
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.
The Herald
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
I'd speak against the untouchables, people who take drugs and tweet at night: Shivambu
Former MK Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu has indirectly fired back at party leader Jacob Zuma and his daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, asserting his ability to speak out against wrongdoing in the party. Shivambu was recently fired as secretary-general after visiting fugitive from justice pastor Shepherd Bushiri in Malawi. Briefing the media on Thursday, Shivambu said he was not afraid of the 'untouchables' and 'people who do drugs and tweet at night' insulting him. 'All the issues I had at MK Party, I raised them internally, even against all odds,' he said. 'If there was an opportunity to raise issues about wrongdoings, I would speak and speak clearly against the untouchables there — people who take drugs, tweet at night, and insult us. We confront them and say, 'What is this about?' We never tiptoe around anyone; we always protect principles on how we deal with issues.' Shivambu's remarks come after a series of public spats with Zuma-Sambudla and Zuma's criticism of his actions. In February, Zuma-Sambudla posted scathing tweets about Shivambu in the middle of the night, discrediting Shivambu's leadership. 'Floyd, I'm not scared of you. Tell Your minions to f*** off, bloody mafikizolos [newbies],' Zuma-Sambudla said on X. 'F** you, Floyd,' another tweet read. She said Shivambu was the worst thing that had happened to the party. Early this week, Zuma took a firm stance against undisciplined members, making reference to several changes in leadership the party has had, particularly the secretary-general position. 'We've had seven secretaries-general because we're not here to play games. We don't care how great you are, how loved you are, we don't care. We talk about our party,' Zuma said. Despite that, Shivambu said he would never be afraid to speak out in the party. 'Go to the corners in the ANC, and they will tell you that 'Ramaphosa is nonsense and misleading us,' but they won't tell him. Go to EFF members, and they will share their own characterisation of their leader and what is happening there, but they don't have the courage to tell him. The same goes for MK, and we can't have a political culture like that. When we raise issues internally, you don't have to gossip about them anywhere.'
TimesLIVE
18-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Bushiri says he prophesied Israel-Iran war
Self-proclaimed Malawian prophet Shepherd Bushiri has claimed to have prophesied the war between Iran and Israel five months before it happened. Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities and military infrastructure, citing concerns over Iran's nuclear programme. Iran responded by declaring a state of war and launching missile strikes against Israel. The attacks are continuing between the two countries, leaving hundreds dead. In a Facebook video dated January 1 this year, Bushiri told his congregation that he saw a conflict in Tehran, Iran's capital, and warned that it might lead to an escalation. 'I saw a conflict in Tehran,' he said. 'Tehran will be up in smoke. We have to pray against this conflict. It will lead into an escalation.' Bushiri has made several prophecies that he claims have come to pass, but his ministry has been met with criticism and scepticism. Despite that, he continues to host services in Malawi and maintains a big following.
The Herald
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
‘We've had seven SGs. We don't beg': Zuma on ill-disciplined members
MK Party (MKP) leader Jacob Zuma has taken a firm stance against undisciplined members, emphasising no one is above the party. Addressing members at Christianenburg Sports Stadium in Clermont, KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma stressed those who deviate from the party's principles will face consequences. He made reference to the recent removal of Floyd Shivambu as secretary-general after his controversial trip to visit fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri in Malawi, which the party said it was not consistent with the MKP's constitution. "This is not an organisation to make money, it is an organisation to liberate South Africa," Zuma said. "If one of us goes off track, we don't beg them." The MKP has experienced significant leadership changes, particularly in the secretary-general position. Before Shivambu, the role was held by Sihle Ngubane who was reassigned to parliament as chief whip, then Arthur Zwane who was removed due to mismanagement allegations and Sfiso Maseko, who resigned. Shivambu joined the MKP after leaving the EFF last year. He was appointed national organiser before being appointed as secretary-general in November. His tenure was also short-lived. The MKP's highest decision-making body announced Shivambu would be redeployed to the National Assembly as an MP. " We've had seven secretary-generals because we're not here to play games. We don't care how great you are, how loved you are, we don't care. We talk about our party." Zuma also responded to complaints about leadership decisions. "There are those who say they want to protest because of one decision we took. This means our party needs work. We will fire anyone who does wrong in the MKP." TimesLIVE
Mail & Guardian
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
MK party's power problem: The fragility of proximity politics
Former South African President Jacob Zuma speaks during a media briefing for his party uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), on June 16, 2024, at Capital Hotel in Sandton, outside Johannesburg. (Photo by Per-) Floyd Shivambu's redeployment from the position of secretary general of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party to a seat in parliament is not simply a procedural shift. It is a symbolic moment that pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of a party still constructing its identity — and, more crucially, its power logic. What this moment makes increasingly difficult to ignore is that the party's internal architecture does not yet rest on collective governance or principled leadership. It rests, quite plainly, on proximity. Proximity to the president general. Proximity to Jacob Zuma. Whether framed as discipline or realignment, Shivambu's redeployment — following a controversial trip to visit the self-proclaimed prophet, Shepherd Bushiri, who fled to his home country while out on bail for charges including fraud and rape — confirms a pattern we've seen brewing. In the MK party, political power is often determined not by mandate or merit, but by access. It is not a political machine with autonomous moving parts, but a gravitational field orbiting one figure. And this is not said to villainise the party. If anything, it emerged precisely because its founders felt other formations had drifted too far from accountability, too far from the masses, too far from the revolutionary ethics they once claimed to embody. The MK party was meant to offer something different. Perhaps even something radical. But this is where it gets complicated. If difference is defined by unwavering loyalty to one individual — regardless of title or structure — then how different is it really? Shivambu's reassignment, reportedly justified by a clause in the party's constitution prohibiting international engagements that conflict with the party line, might appear procedurally sound. However, political observers can't help but note the speed and decisiveness with which this rule was invoked — and for this individual. It's not the rule itself that tells the story. It's when and for whom the rule is enforced. We are seeing a party where key positions — secretary general, spokesperson, even senior deployees — do not enjoy stable mandates. They exist at the mercy of internal currents, shifting alliances and, perhaps most significantly, Zuma's confidence. Today you are central. Tomorrow, the centre moves without you. And this is precisely the problem with proximity politics: it is inherently fragile. When power flows through informal networks and personal bonds, it becomes difficult to institutionalise accountability, manage internal dissent and ensure consistent policy direction. You can be right and still be removed. You can be effective and still be sidelined. Because the metric is not effectiveness — it's alignment. This is why Shivambu's removal matters beyond his person. It points to a deeper reality in the MK party — that its centre of gravity is not ideological coherence or organisational structure. It is one man. And that has consequences. This is not a judgment about Zuma as an individual. It is a political concern about what happens when the centre cannot hold. The MK party's biggest challenge is not winning court cases or keeping its logo. It's this: how does a party that centralises so much power in one figure imagine itself beyond that figure? Because proximity works — for a while. It works when the central figure is present, powerful, active. But what happens when the centre can no longer hold? When the ear you once spoke into is no longer there? Zuma is not a young man, and history is filled with movements that could not survive their founders. If the MK party is to truly become the political home for a return to revolutionary ethics, then it must ask itself: can it build a structure that outlives proximity? That is the real revolutionary task. Not merely to rally around the centre but to prepare for its eventual absence. Thando Mzimela-Ntuli is the president of the National Executive Economic Collective.
