We’re coming for you, ‘prophet’ warned

Civil rights movement #NotInMyName yesterday criticised self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri, 35, the leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church, accusing him of taking advantage of women within his church.

“As South Africa’s most vibrant, recognisable civil rights movement, #NotInMyName has been approached by women – former and current congregants – of the Enlightened Christian Gathering who, in strict confidence, narrate their ordeals at the hands of the so-called man of God and his many lieutenants,” secretary-general Themba Masango said in Pretoria.

South Africa was “overwhelmed by sex pests and sex-for-jobs perpetrators” within religious and other organisations, and “#NotInMyName hereby sends a stern warning ... we are coming for him”.

Masango warned that recent protests outside the ECG church following the December 28 deaths of three congregants in an apparent stampede “will look like a Sunday kindergarten outing if Bushiri does not come clean and reform”.

“Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo! [you strike a woman, you strike a rock],” said Masango. “No amount of expensive designer suits, jewellery, hundreds of bodyguards, expensive Range Rovers, private jets, overzealous yet floundering lawyers, the tired gospel of prosperity or cultism will be able to shield Shepherd Bushiri when #NotInMyName and patriotic South Africans rise to #Shutdown that ECG church.”

The church draws thousands of people to its services each week.

The SA Police Service is investigating a case of defeating the ends of justice against the church following the death of three congregants in a reported stampede and injury of at least 17 in December.

“#NotInMyName is also fully briefed by poor South Africans who allege that they have lost significant amounts of money in financial schemes that are run within the ECG establishment,” said Masango.

“In due course our people will rise to recover what they have lost.” – ANA