Widespread condemnation has followed the recent visit of Floyd Shivambu, secretary-general of South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, to the church of Shepherd Bushiri, a self-declared prophet currently facing extradition from Malawi on serious charges.
The incident gained attention after footage of the Easter 2025 service was shared and later reposted by Shivambu on social media. Bushiri, once one of the region’s most high-profile religious figures, has been accused of fraud, sexual assault, and exploiting vulnerable followers through the sale of so-called miracle products.
Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary fled South Africa in 2020 while out on bail, prompting an ongoing extradition battle. A recent Malawian court ruling supported the request for their return, though an appeal has since been launched by the couple. Despite the unresolved legal proceedings, Shivambu publicly praised Bushiri’s social and spiritual initiatives, describing them as “unparalleled.” The post, which was widely circulated online, sparked criticism from political and judicial figures in South Africa, who viewed the visit as a challenge to the credibility of the country’s legal institutions.
Official censure was issued not only by government representatives but also by Shivambu’s own party. The MK party released a statement disavowing the visit, asserting that it had been undertaken in a personal capacity without official endorsement. The party further reiterated its opposition to gender-based violence and the manipulation of faith for personal gain. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi criticised the act as “a blatant act of disrespect” to South Africa’s legal system and warned that such actions risked encouraging impunity. The controversy comes at a sensitive time for the MK party, which emerged as a major political force in the last election, contributing to the ruling ANC’s historic loss of parliamentary majority.