Prophet Bushiri faces spate of xenophobia attacks in South Africa after ‘stampede’ incident

January 5, 2019 Chomi Khumalo - Nyasa Times 23 Comments

Some South Africans have launched deep and widespread xenophobic attacks against Malawian Prophet Shepherd Bushiri  arguing they are going to continue protesting until his Enlightened Christian Gathering  (ECG) Church is “removed from our showgrounds in Pretoria”.

Bushiri with presidential religious aide Timothy Khoviwa and  Malawi’s ruling DPP’s politician Brown Mpinganjira,
Prophet Bushiri’s ECG church under siege in Pretoria

Typical xenophobic scenes such as burning tyres, spewing hatred remarks, shouts of ‘makwerekwere’ and beating up suspected faces were the order of the night on Friday when a handful of individuals invaded the gates of Pretoria Showgrounds—where ECG holds its services—to stop people from praying there.

The irony of it all is that ECG, currently, is not holding services as it is on recess until January 20.

This comes after three women died  in a tragedy last Friday in what Police believe that members of the congregation may have pushed each other as they panicked over a thunderstorm, leading to the stampede.

One of the protesters was heard shouting in video footage by SABC: “We want to question him [Bushiri]. Some among us want him to vacate Pretoria. We are going to continue protesting until his church is removed from our showgrounds.

“We are aware that the church service was expected to begin today (Friday) and we are disrupting it. This is our message to him,” he said.

However, Prophet Bushiri’s spokesperson Ephraim Nyondo said: “What happened at ECG on Friday was an unfortunate incident that none has control upon. The church is working with the police to ensure that everything is addressed to the letter. So far we have never had any issue with the police. We will remain steadfast in working with the police and relevant offices so that all matters are addressed.”

He added: “Spews of xenophobic attacks are uncalled for Prophet Bushiri and ECG operate legally in South Africa.”

However,  Bushiri spokesman said they understand that the protests is not coming from well-meaning South Africans.
He said:“We understand there are some church leaders who still feel Prophet Bushiri’s church stole people from their churches and that there ministries are falling because of Prophet Bushiri.  We know that they are using this incident to spew their anger us Prophet Bushiri.”

Bushiri followers believe the man known as “Major One” is not only imbued with the power of prophecy, but also to heal the sick and pray for one’s prosperity.

People who proclaim to be able to perform miracles are not unique to South Africa or even the continent – they are found in many parts of the world.

These include US-based Israeli church leader Benny Hinn, Grace Copeland and German evangelist Rienhard Bonnke to name a few.

Religion is a thorny issue, one that largely relies on individual choice.

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23 replies on “Prophet Bushiri faces spate of xenophobia attacks in South Africa after ‘stampede’ incident”

  1. I am not a fan of the Prophet but I detest lies and eny. The incident in Tswane was an accident caused by the rainstorms according to one eye witness.
    Now what the heck is this killing of witness for ‘nsembe’? Was Bushiri there slaying the women. Kupereka nsembe physical cutting of object must be done. This was a mere stampede arising out of people running for cover. Full stop. The problem with this religion business is that some are envious. That is bad. Just do your homework and improve. Period. In any do you know how much Bushiri’s church is contributing to the economy of South Africa. Further are people aware that more foreigners including Malawians flock to that church than South Africans. Are people aware that most South African indeginous do not know that they are Africans? This is a a highly xenophobic country kungoti our country is poor. We should have just stopped going there. And this big tummied man being interviewed by SABC says Bushiri is from Nigeria? Can you see what type of people and country (SABC) we are dealing with?

  2. So you South African you are making noise with only 3 people who has died coz of stamped accident? How many foreigners have you butchered, burned them alive without a crime committed slaughtering them in the name of xenophobia??? God is striking you one but one hehe and I pray that Bushil should remain there and make sure that every month 3 people keep dying. Stupid South Africans thinks they will not die one day when they burn others.

  3. Bushiri was in Malawi all along He was not received with full hands he was persecuted there too because of his preaching, pastors ganged up against him in radios because people leaving there churches. Now in South Africa people well come him with large number even top people so quickly because some of the were looking for prophet in South Africa and people started to leave their churches they started again to gang up against him like Pastors in Malawi . His persecution proves one thing. He is true man of God.

  4. Be aware of false prophets the devil has clothed himself into an Engel of light. If he is a true prophet as he claim himself to be he wouldn’t be tricking people with false miracles like holy spirit fire where he just mixed chemicals to produce fire, taking pictures in the air, raising the dead child, false healing of a shorten arms etc and so many staged miracles that he uses to rip off from already poor people. People of God woke up this gospell of prosperity will mislead you will just take you to hell than to heaven Jesus never promised us paradise on earth then why did he say to that rich man go and give out all your wealthy to the poor and follow me? I wonder why people are still being fooled by this con man. I also used to attend his crusade way back before he left for RSA . When he conducted his first crusade at silver stadium, there he healed many people certain man who was using a wheelchair he claimed to came from area 49 Gulliver but when he was traced back by the journalists in Gulliver to find out how he was doing after the healing the guy couldn’t be traced they searched the place the dude was no where to be found. The journalist reported the incident in the news paper but the man of God threatened the journalist not to interfere into his work or they will be cursed. Since then I have had suspicion about this man of God.

  5. He really should be no where. He’s not wanted by pple in South Africa likewise he’s not wanted by police back home but I’m afraid Malawians can be robbed naked. Home is best but he is no best homie.

  6. Leave him alone you people of evil minds. He is going nowhere till he finishes all what our father in heaven sent him to do. You can call him all sorts of names coz you are evil and full of jelousy but believers in Christ call him Major Prophet of God. The same God that him and me serve, will fight for him all what the devil has planned to do. Papa , be still . This is a year of open doors. Whether devil likes it or not, the door is open already.

  8. My question is why did he had to go and settle in RSA?He would have promoted tourism if he had stayed in Malawi because all other nationalities would have visited Malawi and sleep in Malawian owned business.But Because of dyera he settled in SA

  9. I wonder this folks fail to know in advance the calamities before they struck them, and they claim to speak with God, TB Josuah killed people at his church now this time is Bushiri killing people at his church.

  11. I really have several questions where I need some light as to why Bushiri opts to base in South Africa other than his local home in Malawi. I don’t think South Africans can fail to travel to Malawi should they need him. If he has Malawian followers based in Malawi, they are forced to incur travelling costs not in tandem with Malawi economy. I see wisdom in this Nigeran preacer Joshua who has his base in a home land.

  15. The deaths resulting from the stampede were handled in a questionable manner and that has added to the suspicions that people already have about Bushiri.

  16. Thanks South Africa for opening your eyes, these false prophets have robbed you and enough is enough. These crooks take advantage of our ignorance about the word of God (The Bible). Their message is prosperity, healing, marriages, jobs and such areas. They never speak against sin. They entertain sinful life in their churches. Nigeria wake up!

    1. Much as South Africans could be characterised as such, but the points they are raising could be valid. Why did the church remove the dead bodies before the police instituted an investigation? Secondly, where are these dead bodies? Its only in Malawi where a dead body can be transported without police clearance and even burial without an autopsy/postmortem… Under these allegations the church broke the south african laws..

      1. Readers please note that the above Kawawa is not the same Kawawa who usually makes comments especially on matters political.

        I nevertheless appreciate the fact that online anonymity accords us the freedom to hide behind pseudonyms and that nobody has copyright for a pseudonym on Nyasatimes.

        Only Nyasatimes knows that the two Kawawas (myself and the other person) are different because of the email addresses that we provide.

  18. Kunotu ndiye zada, akuti bogus churches. Mistake imene bushiri wapanga apa ndi yoti wabisa maliro kupita nawo ku ma mochary akutali kuti asaonekere. Zako izo

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