Shivambu defends his association with rape-accused pastor Stephen Zondo
Last month, Floyd Shivambu came under fire for travelling to Malawi and visiting the church of wanted fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri.
Former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party member Floyd Shivambu during a media briefing on 27 June 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The national convenor of the Mayibuye consultation panel, Floyd Shivambu, has defended his association with rape-accused pastor Stephen Zondo, saying “he has not been convicted of any crime”.
At a media briefing on Friday, Shivambu unveiled Zondo as Mayibuye’s national chaplain.
Zondo currently has an ongoing case before the Pretoria High Court where he faces multiple counts of sexual assault and raping seven women from his church, Rivers of Living Waters Ministries.
Last month, Shivambu came under fire for travelling to Malawi and visiting the church of wanted fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri.
ALSO READ: Stephen Zondo dismisses rape allegations against him as made up by children
Bushiri fled South Africa before he could stand trial for charges of rape, fraud and money laundering.
At the time, Shivambu defended the visit by saying he is not a police officer tasked with extraditing fugitives.
Shivambu once again found himself having to defend another rape-accused pastor in Zondo.
“Pastor Zondo is not convicted of any crime. Pastor Zondo is a religious leader who has been leading for a very long time. He has been playing multiple leadership roles in his community and even in the other organisations that we came from.”
Shivambu said Mayibuye did not make a mistake in recruiting Zondo as part of its consultation process.