A high profile food donation event which was supposed to be hosted by Prophet Bushiri was put on ice by the Hawks for contravening the lockdown rules in South Africa.
The publicised event would have seen the charismatic Bushiri rub shoulders with Emalahleni Mayor, Linah Malatjie, among other government dignitaries. The event would also have benefited thousands of families as Bushiri was billed to donate food hampers for Covid-19 relief to the Mpumalanga residents.
Trucks carrying massive tonnage of food essentials were turned away near Witbank, leaving the poor families who were eagerly waiting for the relief packages hungry.
An ECG church representative said Bushiri arranged with Malatjie to distribute food parcels and PPE clothing among other essential ls including sanitizers. A valid travelling permit was obtained. The permits were issued by Mpumalanga MEC for social development, Thandi Shongwe.
The source said Prophet Bushiri, who was arrested together with his wife Mary for money laundering and released on bail in February 2019, had hired trucks to deliver the parcels for distribution on Friday afternoon.
Trucks carrying massive tonnage of food essentials were turned away near Witbank, leaving the poor families who were eagerly waiting for the relief packages hungry.
An ECG church representative said Bushiri arranged with Malatjie to distribute food parcels and PPE clothing among other essential ls including sanitizers. A valid travelling permit was obtained. The permits were issued by Mpumalanga MEC for social development, Thandi Shongwe.
The source said Prophet Bushiri, who was arrested together with his wife Mary for money laundering and released on bail in February 2019, had hired trucks to deliver the parcels for distribution on Friday afternoon.
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| Breaking News - Prophet Bushiri Arrested In South Africa For Breaking Lockdown Rules |
Mhepo News has learnt that the trucks were intercepted en route to Witbank and Bushiri was alerted that the permits were cancelled after the Hawks got wind of the program, subsequently cancelling the event.
“The permits were granted by the Mpumalanga MEC for the prophet and his people to deliver foodstuff through his humanitarian wing Shepherd Bushiri Foundation.
We then informed the Hawks that the prophet got a permit to travel to Witbank to deliver the food parcels. We had to inform them because that’s part of his bail conditions” said the representative.
Bushiri’s lawyer sympathised with the poor families who received the end of the stick due to the permit cancellation. “We didn’t know all along that helping the poor has today become a priority crime of interest to the Hawks. We feel that we are being singled out, targeted and followed, but we don’t know why.
Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed that they had stopped Bushiri from going to Mpumalanga to help the poor.
“His lawyers called to say that they would be travelling. We advised them that because of the coronavirus and the lockdown regulations, no one is allowed to go to any district or province. We advised them to take the food parcels to social development or Solidarity fund for distribution. All of us must observe the law irrespective of who we are’
“The permits were granted by the Mpumalanga MEC for the prophet and his people to deliver foodstuff through his humanitarian wing Shepherd Bushiri Foundation.
We then informed the Hawks that the prophet got a permit to travel to Witbank to deliver the food parcels. We had to inform them because that’s part of his bail conditions” said the representative.
Bushiri’s lawyer sympathised with the poor families who received the end of the stick due to the permit cancellation. “We didn’t know all along that helping the poor has today become a priority crime of interest to the Hawks. We feel that we are being singled out, targeted and followed, but we don’t know why.
Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed that they had stopped Bushiri from going to Mpumalanga to help the poor.
“His lawyers called to say that they would be travelling. We advised them that because of the coronavirus and the lockdown regulations, no one is allowed to go to any district or province. We advised them to take the food parcels to social development or Solidarity fund for distribution. All of us must observe the law irrespective of who we are’
