ETV reported and released a video confirming that the South African police are investigation the founder of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) based on the confession of two young girls who claimed Prophet Shepherd Bushiri raped them.
Prophet Bushiri recently professed undying love to his around the same time the couple was released on a bail of R100,000 each for fraud and money laundering related offence but the rape allegations cast a shadow of doubt on the Prophet’s integrity, until he is proven innocent.
One of the victims who backed the camera in the video released by ETV the prophet had come close to her side during church service a few times before inviting her to meet him in a hotel.
Thenceforth, a church elder told her the prophet wanted to meet her in a hotel. “I knew something was wrong…when I get to the hotel, he said go to third floor, when I get to third floor, after thirty minutes, he told me go to fifth floor, there is a couch there, sit there…after thirty minutes again, he told me go to third floor again…then I knew something was wrong. If this guy was going to pray for me, why is he doing up and downs..?”
The victim said they met and she fell to her knees and wept while the prophet insisted on a hug and kissed her. “He asked me not to worry and touched me on the four head and I fell under the ‘power’ and he took off his clothes and raped me. After that he threw my clothes to me and asked me to wear my clothes. He asked me to take R5,000 and that his people are coming”.
The second victim also claimed she was lured to a hotel after she attended church and the prophet asked her and her cousin to attend a special service the following day.
After the service the following day, the second victim claimed the man of God invited her for coffee and they had coffee and did Bible Study with him.
Then the victim claimed she was invited to a hotel by the prophet and on getting there, found the prophet naked. “He asked me to take my clothes off and I did that shaken, afraid, I didn’t know what to do. That’s when he came up to me and everything happened. After that, he asked me to take R5,000 to book another room (apparently to make the hotel visit look legitimate)”.
The second victim said further: “We want justice because he will continue. This thing is eating me…like me…I didn’t even go for counselling. Why lock yourself in a room and cry yourself to sleep. I keep asking myself that question…”
This is not the first time the prophet has been accused of rape. A Pretoria woman accused him of rape in 2018 and later recanted her story.
The ECG has not responded to the allegation yet.