Malawian televangelist Shepherd Bushiri is once again in the spotlight due to his financial troubles. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has reportedly issued three letters of demand to Bushiri’s television channel, Prophetic Channel.
Self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri, known for his controversial church leadership, faces mounting financial challenges. His television channel, Prophetic Channel, has incurred a substantial tax debt owed to SARS.
In May of last year, SARS sent the first letter of demand, seeking payment of R17 million. In January of this year, two additional letters followed: one requesting R69 million and another demanding over R25 million. The accumulated debt includes unpaid company taxes, value-added tax (VAT), administrative penalties, skills development levy (SDL), and unemployment insurance fund (UIF).
The letters from SARS warn of potential civil judgments. If the debt remains unpaid, a warrant of execution could be issued, allowing the court sheriff to seize and liquidate assets.
In 2020, Shepherd Bushiri faced charges of corruption and money laundering. Despite being granted bail, Bushiri and his wife, Mary, fled South Africa. In Malawi, they appeared in court, accused of embezzling R106 million from an investment company called Rising Estate Limited. Allegedly, they obtained funds from congregants under the guise of a fraudulent investment scheme.
Bushiri, a multimillionaire leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church, commands a significant following across several African countries. Recently, he claimed that the National Director of Public Prosecutions flew to Malawi to defend him and his wife. However, these claims were refuted by the Department of Justice and Correctional Services spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, who labeled them as “outrageous” .