Bushiri's former landlords demand R2.4 million over lease dispute
Court action follows breach of lease agreement for his ECG church building.
Bushiri fled to Malawi in 2020, violating bail conditions on criminal charges.
Fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri faces fresh legal troubles as landlords of his controversial Enlightened Christian Gathering Church (ECG) building seek a writ of execution against his assets to recover R2.4 million in legal costs.
PPS Property Fund has filed an application to compel Bushiri to pay the cost of the lawsuit following a breach of lease agreement dispute that has been unfolding before the Johannesburg High Court since May 2024.
The dispute arose when the company initially approached the Master of the High Court in Johannesburg seeking a ruling to attach Bushiri's known property in Blue Hills after he could not pay more than R1 million when their lease agreement with him turned sour.
This led to them obtaining a court order to wind up Bushiri's estate for breach of agreement, but the company is pursuing parallel actions for legal costs.
Shepherd Bushiri shall be liable to pay the costs of the legal action without deduction or set-off and free of commission and bank costs as follows: consecutive monthly payments in the amount of no less than R2.4 million.
Legal document
In its initial application, the company stipulated that Bushiri failed to make payments and that this was a breach.
'Our endeavour to collect the undisputed indebtedness has a protracted history involving a variety of execution attempts, as well as diligent and persistent engagement with Shepherd Bushiri Ministries. As such, in an attempt to expedite resolution in the quest to avoid further proceedings or liquidation proceedings, all such attempts and engagement have proved to be of no avail,' reads the initial application.
They further highlight that Bushiri was aware of the defaults that were communicated to him and of the process needed to remedy the situation.
'He is commercially insolvent insofar as he is unable to settle his debts to creditors as and when required to do so. The respondent is unable to make and conclude management decisions, as he is required to do.
His conduct presents a total disregard for the interests of creditors and, particularly, the claim of the applicant as underlined in these proceedings.
We have exhausted all reasonable attempts and efforts to engage him and provide him with a fair opportunity to settle his indebtedness towards us,' reads the document.
The company also states that it seeks a winding-up of Bushiri's assets as a primary measure to recoup its losses.
Bushiri and his wife, Mary, fled South Africa in 2020 while out on bail for numerous criminal charges. Despite being granted conditional release, they violated their bail terms and left the country under unclear circumstances.
They were later located in Malawi, prompting South Africa to formally request their extradition.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump slams Elon Musk as megabill drops AI protections and hits snags in Senate
President Trump slammed Elon Musk's subsidies, and Republican senators struck down a plan to shield artificial intelligence from state regulations. These two middle-of-the-night developments on Tuesday reinforced a growing schism between Trump and Silicon Valley supporters over his "big, beautiful bill." The first development came at 12:44 a.m. ET, when Trump responded to Tesla (TSLA) CEO Musk's ongoing critiques of the package, focusing on the government grants that Musk's companies receive. "Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa," wrote the president in a Truth Social post, adding, "perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this?" The president was referring to the government efficiency group that Musk ran until recently. The president's missive came after Trump's signature legislation underwent key changes in recent days that set off many in the tech industry, Musk most of all, with new measures to tax green energy companies and further support for fossil fuels, as well as a growing price tag. The divide between many in Silicon Valley and the "big, beautiful bill" has been evident for over a month. It appeared set to deepen further when, a few hours later, a closely watched artificial intelligence provision was stripped from the bill itself. This plan, which had many Silicon Valley supporters, was meant to shield the quickly growing AI industry from state and local regulations. But the idea now appears to be dead after Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee turned against a compromise plan Monday evening and stripped it from the bill. It wasn't close in the end, with the Senate voting 99-1 to adopt Blackburn's subsequent amendment in a count that wrapped up a little after 4:00 a.m. ET. Trump's overall package also appears to be teetering Tuesday morning after a series of overnight developments saw two key Republican senators — Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine — uncommitted to vote yes. Those two senators could join two Republicans already committed to voting no, which would be enough to sink the package. The drama between the president and the world's richest man has been up and down for weeks, but it escalated Monday afternoon when Musk offered new electoral threats against Republicans. Musk had already amplified Democrats' critiques and talked about the need for a new political party. He offered a striking promise Monday afternoon that lawmakers who vote for the bill "will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth." Musk, of course, was the biggest donor during the 2024 campaign, spending at least $288 million, most of which was offered in support of Trump. Trump reiterated his critiques of Musk Tuesday morning, speaking to reporters and saying of Musk's objection to losing EV subsidies, "Elon can lose a lot more than that." The president also called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) a "monster that might have to go back and eat Elon." And when asked by a reporter if he would consider deporting Musk, he demurred: "We'll have to take a look." What is unclear for the days ahead is how much the Trump-Musk fight will impact the actual chances of the bill's passage, with Senate amendment votes ongoing. Musk is clearly focused on a debate likely coming later this week, when the House is set to take up the amended measure if it passes. The House is where a vocal bloc of fiscal conservatives — who often vote as part of the "Freedom Caucus" — warily supported a previous version of the bill, saying a previous smaller price tag was too big. Musk even tagged some of these House Republican lawmakers in some of his latest posts, which continued throughout the night with dozens of messages. Musk also responded to Trump's comments about his subsidies by saying his companies like Tesla and SpaceX ( would be fine and that oil and gas subsidies should be removed as well. The back-and-forth over AI also came to a head overnight after the House passed a plan in May that included a complete ban on state regulations of AI for a decade. The little-noticed measure gained wider attention in the weeks that followed, with many of Trump's most loyal supporters opposing it. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene even admitted that she hadn't been aware of the provision when she voted yes. The Georgia lawmaker then announced her opposition and plans to vote no if this "violation of state rights" stayed in the bill. Trump himself doesn't appear to have taken a position on the measure, but it had the backing of his Silicon Valley-aligned aides, most notably the vocal support of AI and crypto czar (and longtime venture capitalist) David Sacks. But Republican opposition grew, and Sen. Blackburn of Tennessee became a leading voice of opposition in the Senate. She entered into negotiations over the issue and appeared to have found a compromise in recent days around the idea that instead of a decade-long ban, the provision would be amended to be a "temporary pause" of five years. States would be strongly discouraged from regulating AI, as lawmakers linked it to access to millions of dollars in AI infrastructure and deployment funding. But even that wasn't enough. Blackburn renounced the compromise, said a moratorium "could allow Big Tech to continue to exploit kids, creators, and conservatives," and teamed with a top Democrat to strike the provision entirely. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (a former Trump press secretary) congratulated Blackburn on the move in a post the senator quickly reposted. "This is how you take on big tech!" Sanders wrote. This story has been updated with additional developments. Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump Unleashes on Musk in Worst Tirade Yet as Budget Fight Escalates
President Trump and former DOGE head Elon Musk still seem to be on icy terms as their beef over Trump's budget bill continues. Trump took to Truth Social at nearly 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning to assert that Musk was only against his One Big Beautiful Bill Act because it revokes the electric vehicle mandate that directly benefits Musk's Tesla corporation. He also posited that DOGE should investigate Musk for the amount of subsidies he's received from the federal government. 'Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one,' he wrote. 'Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!' Musk had been lambasting the bill for days on X before Trump's Truth Social post, and on Monday threatened to primary any Republicans who support the legislation and start his own third party if it passes. 'If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day,' Musk wrote on Monday. 'Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE. 'Anyone who campaigned on the PROMISE of REDUCING SPENDING, but continues to vote on the BIGGEST DEBT ceiling increase in HISTORY will see their face on this poster in the primary next year,' he wrote above a picture of Pinocchio up in flames. This dynamic—Musk eviscerating the spending bill, while Trump asserts that Musk's known about the legislation and is only upset about the E.V. mandate removal—has been ongoing since early June. While Musk's vehement opposition to the spending bill is surprising given his months of close proximity to Trump, this bromance seems to be all but over as the 'big, beautiful bill' is likely to pass through Congress.
News24
34 minutes ago
- News24
Two-pot withdrawals reveal debt strain. Here's how employers can help
Employers and HR professionals have typically relied on engagement surveys and exit interviews to gauge employee needs. However, the introduction of South Africa's Two-Pot retirement system offers a new, largely untapped source of insight: fund withdrawal patterns. According to Old Mutual Corporate's 2025 Two-pot Withdrawal Survey, nearly eight in ten employees who accessed the new 'savings pot' did so either to repay debt or to cover basic living costs. Of those surveyed, 45% used the funds to service loans, while 35% withdrew to cover essentials like groceries, school fees, and housing. 'The spike in early savings access is a window into the everyday struggles of the workforce,' said Blessing Utete, Managing Executive at Old Mutual Corporate Consultants. 'When employees are dipping into long-term savings just to make ends meet, it reflects how precarious their financial situations are. 'Two-Pot withdrawal rates present an opportunity to reassess employee support, recognising workers as individuals balancing financial, emotional, and family responsibilities — not just as salary earners.' Utete warns the risk isn't just that financially stressed employees will leave in search of better pay — it's that the ones who stay may be too overwhelmed to perform. 'Debt isn't just a personal issue. It's a performance issue,' he said. 'When employees are fighting just to get through the month, they often don't have the energy, focus, or capacity to deliver their best at work.' The missing conversation in the workplace Despite widespread financial stress among South African workers, employers are still struggling to provide meaningful support. 'While employee benefits strategies often focus on long-term issues like retirement, many employees are grappling with immediate challenges, limited practical solutions, and inconsistent access to financial guidance,' he says. This was a key topic in Utete's podcast, Big Business Insights, where he discussed how integrated financial wellbeing is often overlooked in the workplace. 'People are expected to take charge of their financial stability — but when the only support they receive is geared towards distant outcomes, it sends the message that their day-to-day struggles don't matter,' says Utete. 'That kind of disconnect erodes trust. Employees start to feel like leadership is out of touch with their reality — and that's when engagement, loyalty, and performance begin to suffer.' Even when employers express an interest in financial wellbeing, workplace initiatives often fall short because they're too generic, too technical and clouded by a lack of cultural relevance — making it difficult for employees to act on what they're told. What a modern benefits strategy looks like To address these challenges effectively, Utete says employers need to shift from compliance-based benefits to integrated, human-centred strategies that prioritise immediate financial resilience over abstract future promises. 'If we don't account for that in how we design support structures, we're ignoring the reality of modern working life,' he says. This means that, in addition to offering well-managed retirement and risk benefits, employers should also provide access to relevant, practical financial education and coaching, focused on budgeting, debt literacy, and everyday money management. Innovative debt assistance interventions, such as Old Mutual Corporate's Right Track solution, that helps employers uncover unlawful garnishee orders, unlawful deductions, and curb debt collector harassment. Flexible salary solutions, such as Smart Salary, offer early access to earned wages, allowing employees to responsibly manage their finances before payday and reducing reliance on credit or potentially expensive payday loans. Tools to help employees avoid debt review — which can restrict access to formal credit during the rehabilitation period — and resolve debt challenges without being excluded from the financial system. Integrated health and mental health support, integrated with financial wellbeing where appropriate to promote positive mindset and decision-making Creating a supportive and resilient workforce By focusing on these immediate, practical solutions, employers can begin to address the underlying financial pressures that employees face. This shift goes beyond reactive measures, fostering a more supportive and resilient workforce and ensuring that employees have the tools they need to manage life and thrive both personally and professionally. While the Two-Pot system was introduced to improve long-term savings behaviour, it's now doing something more immediate: providing a window into workforce stress that traditional HR tools have missed. 'Withdrawal rates from long-term savings are a new kind of business intelligence — a signal that tells you who might be struggling and what kind of support your employees need,' concludes Utete. 'Employers who act on that intelligence — by building better, more relevant employee benefits strategy— are not just helping employees save for the future. They're improving focus, energy, and performance today.' For more information on how Old Mutual's integrated employee benefits solutions can support your consulting practice, visit About Big Business Insights Big Business Insights is a thought-provoking podcast designed for business leaders, decision-makers, and industry professionals seeking a 360-degree perspective on leadership, employee benefits, and workplace transformation. Hosted by Blessing Utete, Managing Executive at Old Mutual Corporate Consultants, the podcast features expert guests, including Fatima Vawda, founder and CEO of 27Four and Director of the Association of Savings and Investments South Africa, and Mlamuli Mbambo, MD of Money Fundi, a financial education speaker, coach, and author. In the episode mentioned in the article, they discuss the challenges surrounding employee engagement with financial wellness programmes and how employers can address these issues to better support their workforce.
