The Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe has ruled that Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, should be extradited to South Africa to face multiple charges, including fraud, forgery, and bail-jumping.
The court has also ordered that the couple remain in custody until they are officially handed over to South African authorities. However, some of the initial charges—including theft, money laundering, and racketeering—have been dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Bushiri faces three counts of rape, along with charges of forgery, fraud, and violating bail conditions, while Mary is accused of fraud, forgery, and also absconding bail.
Following the ruling, the couple’s lawyer, Wapona Kita, requested the court to pause the extradition order and grant them bail. In response, State lawyer Dziko Malunda argued that, if granted, bail should come with strict conditions, including high monetary deposits, property guarantees, and surety commitments.
The court is yet to make a final ruling on the bail request.
This case marks a major development in the long-running legal battle between the Bushiris and South African authorities, who have been seeking their return since they fled the country in 2020.
