Malawi’s High Court has set out its reasons for overturning an order to extradite televangelist Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary to South Africa.
The couple face charges of fraud, money laundering and theft in South Africa.
In a 175-page judgment, the court said the extradition order issued in March 2025 could not stand because of serious legal and procedural flaws. Among them was that the Bushiris were denied an opportunity to be heard before the order was made.
The ruling is a setback for South African authorities who have been trying to bring the couple back to stand trial. It means they cannot be extradited under the order that has now been set aside.
Bushiri’s lawyer, Wapona Kita, said the judgment provided the court’s full reasons after considering the couple’s submissions and grounds for review.
“The court has provided the detailed reasons after considering our submissions and grounds for review,” he said.
“Prophet Bushiri and his wife will no longer be extradited to South Africa under the quashed order. The only way forward now is through an appeal by the State.”
Bushiri welcomed the decision. He said the court had addressed concerns they had raised about the evidence presented to support their extradition, including what they described as a lack of evidence, the use of anonymous witnesses and material amounting to hearsay.
The couple also alleged police misconduct, claiming some officers had opened fictitious cases to extort money from them.
Bushiri cited xenophobic attacks in South Africa, demonstrations at his church calling for their departure, and the petrol-bombing of church tents.
He questioned the accountability of officers involved in their arrest, saying some had since been arrested or dismissed over unrelated corruption allegations.
“We thank God for answering our prayers and thank everyone who stood with us throughout this journey,” he said.
“We have trusted God through it all, and today we give Him the glory. There is a God in heaven!”
The case dates back to October 2020, when the couple were arrested in South Africa over alleged fraud, money laundering and theft valued at more than R102 million. At the time they ran the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church in Pretoria.
They were each granted R200,000 bail, despite the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court regarding them as flight risks. Their bail conditions included surrendering their passports and reporting to the nearest police station twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.
In November 2020, while out on bail and in breach of those conditions, they left South Africa for Malawi.
After their return to Malawi, Bushiri said they would only go back if their safety could be guaranteed and the investigating officers in the case were removed.
The High Court’s decision confirms that any further effort to return them to South Africa will depend on the State pursuing an appeal.
More: ZimLive
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