News24 | Bushiri celebrates as Malawi High Court blocks extradition to South Africa

Malawi’s High Court has overturned the decision to extradite Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, to South Africa.

Frennie Shivambu/Gallo Images

• Malawi’s High Court has reversed an order to extradite Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary to South Africa.
• The couple fled South Africa in 2020 while facing fraud, theft, and money laundering charges worth more than R102 million.
• The State can only revive the case by appealing the ruling.

Malawi’s High Court has reversed an order seeking to extradite controversial preacher Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, to South Africa “because of serious procedural and legal flaws”.

The High Court initially granted the order in March 2025, but Bushiri appealed successfully, and High Court Judge Mzonde Mvula issued a 175-page ruling on Wednesday.

The couple fled South Africa in 2020, skipping bail while facing charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering worth more than R102 million.

Among the reasons given by the High Court in Lilongwe was that they were not given their right to defend themselves when the extradition order was granted.

As such, the court said that on that basis it was “sufficient to invalidate the process”.

READ | Bushiri claims Hawks officers acting on Sibiya’s behalf tried to extort R12m from him

Wapona Kita, the lawyer representing the Bushiris, said his clients would no longer be extradited under the rejected order, but that the case can only be heard if the State (Malawi) appeals.

“The only way for the issue to be heard is through an appeal by the State. But for now, Prophet Bushiri and his wife will no longer be extradited to South Africa,” he said.

In a statement celebrating his legal victory, Bushiri said the courts set him and his wife free after “key concerns we raised, including the lack of evidence and the fact that the so-called witnesses remain anonymous”.

READ | The prophet, his wife and the Ghost: Shepherd Bushiri's R8m Rolls-Royce anniversary 'grift'

He added that evidence was rejected by the courts because “it was based on hearsay rather than solid proof”.

Bushiri also claimed that they were victims of xenophobia in South Africa, giving an example of alleged demonstrations “at our church demanding that we leave the country”.

Bushiri questioned the professionalism of police in South Africa, claiming without providing any evidence that he was a victim of extortion.

He said:

It is concerning that some of the police generals involved in our arrest have reportedly since been arrested or dismissed over other corruption allegations. This raises serious questions about accountability and justice.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said it would comment on Thursday. This will be added when received.