Shepherd Bushiri Shows Supports for Timothy Omotoso, Urges Him to Leave South Africa Speedily
- Shepherd Bushiri advised Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso to leave South Africa as soon as he can
- Omotoso was found not guilty of rape and human trafficking in the Gqeberha High Court on 2 April 2025
- Self-proclaimed prophet, Bushiri, also faces charges in South Africa but remains in his home nation of Malawi
Source: Getty Images
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent ten years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism
Self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri has offered advice to Pastor Timothy Omotoso following the end of his eight-year legal battle.
The Nigerian televangelist was found not guilty of rape and human trafficking in the Gqeberha High Court on 2 April 2025, eight years after his initial arrest.
His co-accused, Lusanda Solani and Zikiswa Sitho, were also found not guilty. During his lengthy trial, Omotoso tried in vain to have the charges dropped.
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Bushiri shows support for fellow religious leader
Bushiri, who himself has been charged with rape, claimed that the Nigerian religious leader was treated like a monster.
“He woke up in a cold cell, staring at the same walls, the same despair, wondering if the world had forgotten him. They denied him bail, treated him like a monster and watched as his life crumbled. His ministry — gone. His businesses — seized. His church was burnt by the mob. His dignity — stripped away,” Bushiri said.
Taking to Facebook, Bushiri urged Omotoso to leave South Africa as soon as he could.
“To you, my brother Omotoso, leave while you still can. If there’s a window you can use to leave quickly before they deport you, do so,” he added.
You can view the full post below.
Bushiri fighting extradition back to South Africa
Bushiri’s comments come as he is fighting extradition back to South Africa. Malawi’s Chief Resident Magistrate Court ruled in favour of South Africa, but Bushiri and his wife, Mary, have since filed an appeal. The couple are adamant that they will not return to the country, saying that the justice system is flawed and so they wouldn’t get a fair trial.
The couple was accused of fraud and money laundering and were released on bail in November 2024 in connection with a multimillion-dollar money laundering case. They then fled to Malawi and now also face charges of violating bail conditions.
Source: Getty Images
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) under fire after Omotoso acquittal
Omotoso’s acquittal has drawn a lot of outrage across the country, with fingers being pointed at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The Justice Ministry has now requested a detailed report from NPA head Shamila Batohi on what went wrong.
The NPA has been in the spotlight following the acquittal after Judge Irma Schoeman ruled that the State failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. She also ruled that prosecutors in the case acted improperly and did not cross-examine the accused adequately.
What you need to know about Shepherd Bushiri
Shepherd Bushiri, widely known as Major 1, is a self-proclaimed Malawian prophet, businessman, motivational speaker, and author. He’s best known as the founder of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church, which has attracted thousands of followers across Africa and beyond.
According to Bushiri, his spiritual journey began at the age of 10 after a dream in which a supernatural being instructed him to preach and lead people to repentance. That moment set him on a path of lifelong devotion to serving God.
Bushiri first rose to fame after a video of him seemingly “walking in the air” went viral, sparking both fascination and scepticism. His popularity continued to grow, but so did the controversy surrounding him. A former PR manager later claimed that several of Bushiri’s so-called miracles were staged to generate publicity and boost his profile.
Omotoso found not guilty of charges
Briefly News reported that Pastor Omotoso was found not guilty of rape in the Gqeberha High Court.
The Nigerian televangelist was arrested in 2017 and originally faced 63 charges alongside two co-accused.
His two co-accused were initially granted bail, but Omotoso was behind bars for eight years.
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Source: Briefly News
