Flamboyant self-styled prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary, who have been charged with fraud and money-laundering, have been granted bail of 100,000 rand each ($7,400; £5,000) by a court in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria. After the verdict was given, hundreds of their supporters raised their hands to the sky, and bowed to pray while others sang and danced in jubilation, South Africa’s privately owned TimesLive news site reported.
“Daddy is out, yay,” it quoted a Bushiri supporter as shouting. The bail condition of the couple – who are Malawian nationals – stipulates that they cannot leave Gauteng province, the economic hub of South Africa.
They were arrested last week by South Africa’s elite anti-corruption unit, the Hawks, for alleged offences dating back to 2015. The pastor and his wife have not yet been asked to plead to the charges. The church leader – who is referred to by his supporters as “Major 1” – is known as much for his lavish lifestyle as for his successful ministry, which stretches across Africa. He claims to have cured people of HIV, appeared to walk on water in images posted on social media, and owns four private jets.
