Malawian self-proclaimed prophet, businessman, and author Shepherd Bhushiri has responded to the allegations made by the South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
The SIU uncovered about R16.3 million in bribes paid to four corrupt Home Affairs officials, who allegedly issued visas and permanent residence permits unlawfully.
Payments were reportedly routed through e‑wallets and officials’ spouses’ accounts.
High-profile foreign nationals implicated include prophet Shepherd Bushiri and televangelist Timothy Omotoso.
Bushiri is alleged to have used church networks and cash donations to secure permanent residence illegally, while Omotoso reportedly benefited from permits obtained outside normal procedures.
Responding to the allegations, Bushiri responded via his social media account addressing the SIU on their claims.
“Let the irrational SIU of South Africa be reminded of this simple, undeniable truth. I did not apply for my immigration status in South Africa. I applied through the South African Embassy in Malawi. My documents were submitted in Malawi, long before we came to South Africa permanently, and not through any church member in South Africa.
“Our applications were lawfully approved under South African law, which grants immigration status to individuals who make a substantial investment in the country—over R10 million. By the time I applied, I had already invested more than R90 million in South Africa. This was not a favour. It was not an exception. It was the law,” he said.
Bushiri said when the permits were approved, we were formally contacted by the South African Embassy in Malawi and instructed to come and collect them.
“We did not chase anyone. We did not solicit help. We followed the process exactly as prescribed. Yet an innocent man was arrested an immigration officer whose only “crime” was that he was a member of our church. He was accused, without evidence, of issuing us permits simply because he knew us, even though our applications were lodged, assessed, and approved through official embassy channels long before we entered South Africa. That baseless suspicion cost him everything,” he said.
Bushiri said he was brutally treated, dismissed from his job, and stripped of his dignity and last week, he passed away.
“What is most painful and unforgivable is that before his body was even laid to rest, a statement was rushed out claiming that he had admitted to issuing us permits illegally. They spoke for him only once they were sure he could no longer speak for himself. They know the dead cannot defend the truth.
“To add insult to injury, we were already charged for these so-called immigration offenses six years ago. So the question that burns is this. If this investigation is only emerging now, why were we arrested then?
Do you arrest people in order to investigate,
or do you investigate in order to arrest?
What is happening here is not justice.
It is not due process. It is a witch-hunt. And it has already claimed an innocent life,” he wrote.