MKP Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu in hot soup for spending Easter in fugitive Prophet Bushiri's church and highly praising him

Johannesburg – The Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is scrambling to manage the fallout after its Secretary General, Floyd Shivambu, was photographed and filmed attending a Good Friday service at Shepherd Bushiri's Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) in Malawi. The visit has sparked controversy, particularly given Bushiri's fugitive status in South Africa, where he faces serious charges including rape and fraud.

The MK Party has moved swiftly to distance itself from Shivambu's actions, issuing a statement asserting that the visit was not sanctioned by the party leadership. "The Party wishes to make it unequivocally clear that this visit was not sanctioned, endorsed or initiated by the leadership or any official structure of the MK Party," said party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela. "The Secretary General undertook this visit in his personal capacity and without the mandate or knowledge of the Party."

Ndhlela further emphasised the party's stance on issues related to Bushiri's alleged activities. "The MK Party strongly condemns all forms of gender-based violence and the exploitation of vulnerable communities, especially innocent Christian believers, by individuals who manipulate faith for personal enrichment or to evade justice," he stated.

Shivambu's visit to Bushiri's church on Easter Friday included a public expression of gratitude towards the self-proclaimed prophet. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Shivambu wrote, "Thank you, my brother, Prophet Bushiri, for hosting us and for the kind words. The government-scale amount of work you do to economically, educationally, socially, and spiritually uplift our people is unparalleled—both now and historically." He also referenced a verse from the Bible, writing: “Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender. God bless!”

Shivambu further emphasised the deep appreciation from Malawi’s leadership and people for the programmes Bushiri has initiated. “I know that the leadership and people of Malawi appreciate and cherish the many impactful programmes you run on the ground. Continue doing the good work.”

During the church service, Bushiri warmly acknowledged Shivambu, describing him as: “One of the great and wonderful men I know who loves Africa and supports African affairs.” Bushiri praised Shivambu’s dedication to African empowerment, adding: “Men like Floyd believe in supporting fellow Africans and encouraging those who are doing well. I’m so happy to have someone like him in South Africa and on the continent.”

Bushiri later took to social media (Facebook) to applaud Shivambu’s Pan-African ideals: “Thrilled to have met Mr. Floyd Shivambu! His philosophy of black people supporting each other resonated deeply. Sadly, some still peddle jealousy and negativity—labelling successful black individuals as ‘corrupt’ and in need of investigation, while praising white individuals as ‘investors.’ That’s not Pan-Africanism; that’s jealousy.” In a lighter moment, Bushiri also shared a detail from Shivambu’s visit: “He even stopped by our church for a prayer session. I guess you could say he wanted to ‘pray away’ any political stress—or ensure his prayers were ‘politically correct.’” Bushiri emphasised that Shivambu’s visit was a blessing, and the church appreciated his willingness to seek divine guidance.

The South African Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development has expressed its concern over Shivambu's visit, highlighting the serious legal implications of associating with a fugitive from justice. "The Bushiris’ unlawful departure from South Africa constituted a direct violation of their bail conditions and prompted an official extradition request to the Malawian government," the Ministry stated.

Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi was particularly critical of Shivambu's conduct. "Shivambu’s conduct, his association with Mr Bushiri is a blatant act of disrespect toward South Africa’s legal system. Mr Shivambu’s actions erode public trust in the justice system and embolden those who believe they can escape accountability," she said. "No one, regardless of status or position, is above the law. Political leaders have a responsibility to uphold the rule of law, not fraternise with fugitives."

The Justice Ministry's statement underscores the sensitivity surrounding the Bushiri case, which has been a long-standing point of contention between South Africa and Malawi. The Bushiris' escape in 2020 sparked a diplomatic row and raised questions about the integrity of South Africa's border security and justice system.

Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, South African gospel singer Dr Rebecca Malope also performed at the church service, further raising eyebrows given the circumstances surrounding Bushiri.

The MK Party's swift disavowal of Shivambu's visit suggests an attempt to mitigate potential damage to the party's reputation, particularly as it prepares for upcoming elections. The incident raises questions about internal discipline within the party and the extent to which its leaders are aligned on key ethical and legal principles. The public will be watching closely to see how the MK Party addresses this controversy and what consequences, if any, Shivambu will face for his actions.