On Saturday, August 12, members of the self-proclaimed prophet Shepard Bushiri’s Enlightened Christian Gathering church in Mpumalanga went through a terrifying incident.
Three thieves, wearing balaclavas and carrying handguns, broke into the church and held up the congregation for their belongings.
Church members had gathered for a night vigil when the incident took place, TimesLIVE reported.
“While still waiting for other members, three robbers armed with handguns and their faces covered stormed the church.
The armed robbers demanded cell phones, personal bank cards, and the church’s bank cards, including PINs. They also made off with an undisclosed amount of cash and two vehicle keys.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Slevy Mohlala, the suspects fled the church in a stolen white VW Polo Vivo, later recovered seven kilometres from the church in Mzinti.
“The provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lt-Gen Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has already gathered a team of investigators to work on the case. The general said Mpumalanga police will never allow criminals to walk free and promised to get those behind the robbery behind bars soon,” said Mohlala.
Meanwhile, ECG leader Shepherd Bushiri has applied for his extradition case to be dismissed, accusing South African officials who travelled to Lilongwe to testify against him of contempt of court.
Bushiri and his wife were arrested in Pretoria in November 2020, facing charges of money laundering, theft, and fraud in connection with a R102 million investment scheme. After being granted R200,000 bail each, the couple fled the country.
