Malawi says SA case against Bushiri is hearsay, case against Mudolo weakens

Prophet Shepherd Bushiri has publicly accused a senior police official identified only as “Sibiya” of attempting to extort money to halt investigations against him, alleging a systematic campaign of corruption within the police service.

Bushiri claimed that members of his team met with the official, who allegedly demanded large sums of money to settle his legal matters. “So much money was collected in the name of this general to stop this case,” he said. “It was corruption after another.”

Although Bushiri did not mention a full name, it is widely believed he may have been referring to Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, who previously headed the Hawks’ crime detection division. Bushiri described what he called a systematic campaign of extortion and intimidation within police ranks, suggesting corruption was entrenched at senior levels.

He said an intelligence officer later advised him to approach the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), which has since opened a case into the alleged misconduct. According to Bushiri, IPID initially planned to use the money as bait to trap the allegedly corrupt officers, but the operation was compromised. “Someone from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) allegedly tipped them off, which ultimately led to our arrest,” he said. He described the police raid as sudden and coordinated: “They came early in the morning, the same police officers, to arrest us instead.”

Bushiri criticised the repeated postponements of his case. “The more we waited, the more our lives were seriously threatened,” he said, noting that the bail conditions themselves posed a danger, as “corrupt” officers could monitor their movements. He recalled a tip-off from one of his pastors that helped him avoid an assassination attempt. “That was the call that saved my life.” He also cited an attempted attack at a Sandton petrol station in February 2020, which prompted his flight to Malawi. “When we came to Malawi, we were not running away from justice. It was seeking justice.”

Neither IPID nor the NPA have responded to requests for comment. This will be included once received.

Meanwhile, recent developments in the Malawi High Court have clarified that there is effectively no case against Willah Mudolo, an investor in Bushiri’s property development project. Authorities in Lilongwe described charges against Bushiri as largely hearsay, and Mudolo’s involvement was limited to investment activities.

Criminal law expert Chris Wessels said the situation underscores broader concerns about politically charged prosecutions. “Mudolo’s case shows the dangers of targeting individuals who are not implicated in wrongdoing, simply because they are associated with high-profile figures,” he said.

Wessels added, “The South African authorities appear to have pursued extraneous targets instead of focusing on the main allegations. An attempt to convict Mudolo will seem like judicial inference. Mudolo will simply be low hanging fruit. The state must accept that it has a weak case on Bushiri and its extradition papers were drafted in very poor fashion. This matter is now clearly politicised, it is as good as buried"

On Bushiri’s allegations of internal police corruption, Wessels said: “Whether or not these claims are verified, the repeated complaints about extortion and intimidation reflect systemic issues that require independent oversight. It is a reminder that high-level corruption allegations must be taken seriously, investigated properly, and not politicised.”

He also commented on the broader implications of extradition proceedings: “Extraditing someone without hearing both sides sets a dangerous precedent. It can put lives at risk and erode confidence in judicial systems. 

Justice Mvula of the Malawi High Court ruled that the magistrate’s decision ordering Bushiri’s extradition “was legally unsound, procedurally unfair, and violated the applicants’ constitutional rights.” Bushiri and his wife fled South Africa in November 2020 after being granted bail on fraud and money laundering charges totaling R102 million.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said the government is reviewing the Malawi ruling to determine next steps. The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development stated that South Africa remains committed to pursuing all available legal avenues while respecting the independence of both countries’ judicial systems. The ministry emphasised that diplomatic engagement and judicial cooperation are crucial for resolving cross-border cases.