Johannesburg is ramping up its efforts to recover over ten million rands in unpaid levies and duties from Shepherd Bushiri, a Malawian preacher and fugitive. Despite the city’s aggressive pursuit, Bushiri has managed to divest one of his prized assets— the luxurious Waters Hotel and Spa in Rustenburg, North West. This recent transaction has intensified the spotlight on Bushiri’s financial and legal woes.
In April, the opulent Waters Hotel and Spa, once a symbol of Bushiri’s wealth, was transferred to JM Busha Investments, a company led by the prominent Zimbabwean politician and philanthropist Joseph Makamba Busha. The acquisition followed a complex series of financial disputes, with Busha Investments stepping in after the hotel’s staff had previously filed a complaint with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration in March 2020 over unpaid wages.
Sources indicate that the hotel’s transfer came in the wake of a significant R200 million loan extended to Bushiri in 2020, which he failed to repay. As a result, Busha Investments secured a sequestration order against Bushiri. Employees at the hotel, who are also members of Bushiri’s Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church, reported that the takeover has led to the scaling down of operations due to financial constraints. The exact details of how the transaction transpired remain unclear, adding to the intrigue surrounding Bushiri’s financial affairs.
Further complicating matters, Busha Investments has sought to place all assets registered under Bushiri’s name under provisional sequestration, a request granted by the High Court. This move aims to protect the company’s interests while Bushiri faces mounting financial and legal challenges.
Meanwhile, the City of Johannesburg is pursuing aggressive legal action to auction Bushiri’s properties in the city as a means to recoup the R10,078,538 owed. Court documents filed by the city highlight Bushiri’s failure to respond to correspondence as the basis for the proposed auction. “The City of Johannesburg is entitled to adopt and implement a tariff policy on the levying of fees for municipal services provided by the city itself or by way of service delivery agreements with Shepherd Bushiri. He breached his legal duty by failing to pay. He is not exempt from paying levies and taxes,” the court papers state.
Earlier this month, similar actions were taken regarding a house in Blue Hills, which has an outstanding bill of R1.4 million. Additionally, Bushiri faces a R1 million claim for allegedly breaching a lease agreement with PPS Property Fund Trust for the premises of ECG’s headquarters in Hatfield, Pretoria. The trust, managed by PPS Insurance, has sought an order from the Master of the Johannesburg High Court that could lead to the auctioning of Bushiri’s assets.
Bushiri and his wife Mary fled to Malawi in November 2021 after being granted bail by the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court. They were facing serious charges including money laundering, fraud, and allegations of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme targeting pension funds. Efforts to extradite the couple from Malawi have faced delays, adding to the complexity of their legal situation. They are also under scrutiny for allegedly obtaining their permanent residency permits fraudulently.
As of now, attempts to reach representatives from Busha Investments in Zimbabwe and the Bushiris for comment have been unsuccessful. The ongoing legal and financial battle surrounding Shepherd Bushiri continues to unfold, highlighting the complex interplay between personal fortune, legal accountability, and international jurisdiction.
In other news – Zimbabwean authorities arrest foreign tourist over claims of falsehoods
In a curious legal entanglement in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, two foreign tourists have found themselves in the spotlight after being arrested under unusual circumstances. Lucas Slavik, a national from the Czech Republic, and Tom Ssekamwa from Uganda were brought before a magistrate facing distinct and controversial charges.
According to the Masvingo Mirror, Slavik is charged with spreading falsehoods after he recorded a video alleging ongoing issues with water shortages and power cuts in Zimbabwe. Read More
