Bushiri accuses Hawks, police of R12m bribe demand

Fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri has accused senior South African police and Hawks officials of demanding a R12-million bribe to allow him and his wife to stay in the country.

The self-proclaimed prophet made the accusation during a recent live online broadcast, alleging the payment was described by officials as a "protection fee."

Bushiri claims a Hawks captain and several police officers have been harassing him and his wife, starting as far back as 2016.

He specified the officers he alleges were involved in the corrupt demands.

READ MORE:

SA works on its next move in Bushiri extradition matter

City of Joburg intensifying efforts to recoup millions from Shepherd Bushiri

Malawi court orders Bushiri and his wife to be extradited to South Africa

"I call them corrupt police officers, whose names I already mentioned and I'm going to mention them again, the likes of Rebi, she's a captain in the Hawks, Mare Maritz, and a whole group of company and a certain gentleman known as Captain Ngobeni," Bushiri stated.

He further claimed Ngobeni was a proxy sent to solicit money.

"These did not hide their intentions through this Captain Ngobeni, but to speak that we had to pay 12 million rands if we had to stay in South Africa. And this was apparently known as protection fees."

Bushiri and his wife fled to Malawi in 2020 while facing fraud and money laundering charges in South Africa.

Since their flight, the couple has made a series of serious allegations against South African authorities.

This latest claim follows their recent extradition victory in Malawi, which set aside a court order for the couple to be sent back to South Africa for trial.