In a series of mounting troubles for controversial pastor Shepherd Bushiri, a Pretoria-based company has stepped forward to join the growing queue of entities seeking to liquidate Shepherd Bushiri Ministries. PPS Property Fund Trust, a trust controlled by PPS Insurance, has taken legal action after Bushiri allegedly violated a lease agreement for his Enlightened Christian Gathering Church premises in Hatfield, Pretoria, which served as his headquarters.
According to City Press, PPS Property Fund Trust recently approached the office of the Master of the High Court in Johannesburg to obtain an order that could potentially lead to the auctioning of Bushiri's assets. Court documents filed on 21 May this year reveal that Bushiri had signed a settlement deed committing him to pay R1,095,801 and an additional R995,707 for contractual damages in 2022.
"The defendant [Shepherd Bushiri Ministries] shall be liable to repay the settlement indebtedness without deduction or set off and free of commission and bank costs as follows: consecutive monthly payments of no less than R70,000 on or before the first day of each consecutive month, commencing on 1 March 2022," the documents read.
PPS further emphasized that Bushiri had failed to fulfill his payment obligations, thereby violating the terms of their agreement. The trust's attempts to collect the outstanding debt have been met with a prolonged history of evasion and non-compliance from Shepherd Bushiri Ministries. Despite numerous execution attendances and persistent engagement with the organization, no resolution has been reached, prompting PPS to pursue further legal action.
The company also expressed its disappointment, stating, "The respondent's conduct presents a total disregard for the interests of the creditors and, particularly, the claim of the trust as underlined in these proceedings."
PPS outlined the extensive efforts it had made to engage with Bushiri in order to reach a fair resolution, but to no avail. Consequently, the trust has sought the winding up of Bushiri's assets as a primary measure to recoup its losses. The court documents shed light on the fact that Shepherd Bushiri Ministries owns several unbonded properties, including ones in Blue Hills, Johannesburg, and Waterkloof, Pretoria.
This latest legal setback adds to a growing list of financial troubles for Bushiri. Last December, the Johannesburg High Court ordered the sequestration of his assets in an attempt to recover the R200 million he owed to the JM Busha Investment Group in loans. Additionally, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has demanded over R70 million in unpaid taxes from the controversial pastor.
Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary made international headlines in November 2021 when they fled South Africa to seek refuge in Malawi after being granted bail by the Pretoria Magistrates' Court. The couple faced charges of money laundering and fraud, with allegations of orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that targeted pension funds.
The news of the PPS Property Fund Trust's move to liquidate Shepherd Bushiri Ministries comes a year after former Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed the suspension of five officials implicated in fraudulent permanent residence permits issued to the Bushiris. Moreover, former Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola stated that the government is still actively pursuing the extradition of the Bushiris to South Africa.
