Twitter @bushiri_m
The Home Affairs Department has launched an internal investigation into the 2015 issuing of fraudulent permanent residency to self-proclaimed prophet Shepard Bushiri and his wife, Mary.
This follows their dramatic escape from South Africa to Malawi over the weekend, defying strict bail conditions.
The couple was only permitted to travel within Gauteng and North West after being granted bail of R200 000 each by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on November 4.
The Bushiris and their three co-accused face fraud and money laundering charges related to an investment scheme valued at over R100 million.
Briefing Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Tuesday, Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said Mary Bushiri arrived in South Africa for the first time in 1997 with permanent residency but the country has no electronic record of this.
He said there was also no record of the Preacher's arrival in 2009, but he proceeded to register businesses in the country.
Then in 2016, the duo collectively applied for permanent residency, despite Mary already having such permit.
Dr Motsoaledi said his department would invoke the couple's permits and is investigating which officials were involved in the matter.
He added that his department presented to the police that Bushiri was using fraudulent documents and therefore should be denied bail because he is a flight risk.
Motsoaledi said other Ministers' in the Security Cluster would soon brief Parliament on the matter as the two fugitives were not the responsibility of Home Affairs when they fled the country.
A warrant of arrest was issued to the couple on Monday, and Tuesday the Hawks applied for a red notice with Interpol in their pursuit of Shepard and Mary Bushiri.
Hawks spokesperson, Katlego Mogale says the so-called "red notice" will allow them to interact with their counterparts in Malawi.
Government spokesperson Phumla Williams said the government will seek Bushiri’s extradition from Malawi in terms of the SADEC Protocol on Extradition and other legal instruments, to which Malawi is a signatory.
The couple is currently also out on bail of R100 000 each in a separate matter that will soon go to trial.
They are facing charges of fraud, money laundering and the contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act to an amount of R15 million.
The couple is also accused of contravening South Africa’s exchange control regulations by paying about R19 million in cash for a private jet.
Bushiri is the controversial church leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering which attracts thousands of people across Africa.
