Another luxury asset belonging to fugitive self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, is set to be auctioned off, as creditors intensify their efforts to recover over R200 million in unpaid debt. This time, it's a Range Rover registered in Mary Bushiri's name, the latest in a dwindling fleet of high-end vehicles to be liquidated.
The auction is the latest development in the ongoing legal battle to seize and sell the Bushiris’ assets to satisfy their substantial financial obligations. Absa Bank has approached the Johannesburg High Court seeking permission to sell the Range Rover to recover a R1 million debt allegedly owed by Mary Bushiri, stemming from outstanding payments on the vehicle.
Court documents filed by Absa detail the bank's unsuccessful attempts to contact the Bushiris since their controversial departure from South Africa in November 2020. The couple fled the country following charges of fraud, money laundering, and theft levelled against Shepherd Bushiri, the leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church.
The bank's application states: “The ownership of the vehicle would remain vested with the bank until all amounts due by Bushiri in terms of the sale agreement have been paid in full. Should Bushiri be in default and commit any breach of the agreement, then the bank would be entitled at its election and without prejudice to any other rights it may have against Bushiri to claim immediate payment of the outstanding balances.” The bank maintains that it had no choice but to pursue repossession to recover its funds. The papers further state: “The bank believes that notification of the arrival of the notice reached Bushiri, as a reasonable person, would have retrieved the notice. The bank is not aware of any circumstances that show the contrary.”
This latest auction follows recent reports that the Bushiris' opulent mansion in Blue Hills Estate, Johannesburg, is also facing potential sale. The City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality is seeking to recover over R1 million in unpaid municipal rates and taxes. Adding to the financial pressure, the couple's R100 million Sheraton Hotel has already been sold to settle a loan from Busha Investments.
Meanwhile, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is pursuing the Bushiris for approximately R70 million in unpaid income tax related to an investment entity owned by the self-proclaimed prophet. This matter has resulted in a civil court action. A source within SARS confirmed that a writ of execution for the Bushiris’ assets is currently being processed. The source stated: “SARS hasn’t received any correspondence from Bushiri since the letters were served notifying them of their failure to comply with South African tax regulations. The next step for us is to collaborate with various law enforcement agencies to bring him to book.”
The ongoing attempts to recover debts from the Bushiris highlight the scale of their financial liabilities and the determination of creditors to recoup their losses.
