Campaign sets sights on Bushiri
#NOTINMYNAME criticised self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri, leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church, accusing him of taking advantage of several women in his congregation.
“As South Africa’s most vibrant, recognisable civil rights movement, #NotInMyName has been approached by women – former and current congregants – of the ECG who, in strict confidence, narrated their ordeals at the hands of the so-called man of God and his many lieutenants,” said secretary general Themba Masango.
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 seen outside the ECG church following the December 28 death of three congregants in an apparent stampede “will look like a Sunday kindergarten outing if Bushiri does not come clean and reform”.
The police are investigating a case of defeating the ends of justice against the church following the death of three congregants in a reported stampede and at least 17 injured in December.
In the aftermath, the SA National Civic Organisation led protests at the ECG, with community members calling for the church to be expelled from the Pretoria Events Centre forthwith, and for Bushiri to be deported home to Malawi.
Yesterday, #NotInMyName urged women across South Africa who felt that they had been abused by religious leaders to speak out. “There is help out there and #NotInMyName will fight for your justice – even if it’s not fashionable to do so. #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.
“In due course our people will rise to recover what they have lost.”
Bushiri, 35, and his wife Mary, 37, are on R100 000 bail each after they were arrested by the Hawks on serious fraud and money laundering charges.
The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court postponed that matter to May 10. |