A criminal syndicate of foreign pastors turned South Africa’s department of home affairs into a “personal gold mine”, using corrupt officials and forged documents to secure fraudulent visas, permanent residence, marriage certificates, IDs and even citizenship, while amassing fortunes from their congregants.
An explosive Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report details how the pastors – many of whom first entered the country on tourist or holiday visas – built vast followings that funded luxury lifestyles, including private jets, multiple homes and large cash deposits.
Bushiri at the centre of the network
Topping the list is Shepherd Bushiri, the self‑styled prophet and leader of Enlightened Christian Gathering, who fled to Malawi in 2020 while facing charges of fraud, theft and money laundering involving about R100m in South Africa.
According to the SIU:
- Bushiri bought a $1.2m (about R20m) private jet and six houses worth around R30m, all paid for in cash.
- He funnelled R7m into his personal accounts.
- He did this using what investigators believe were proceeds of criminal activity and misused religious donations.
The SIU interviewed representatives from National Aviation Co‑operation (NAC), who confirmed Bushiri paid $1.2m in cash at their Lanseria offices, allegedly using money from his nonprofit company – raising red flags about money laundering and financial transparency.
Bushiri held accounts with FNB, Nedbank and Capitec. The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) flagged R5.9m in electronic transfers into his Nedbank account, many referenced as “Capitec tithe” or “seed” payments.
The SIU noted that in January and February 2021, R1.9m in cash was deposited into Bushiri’s accounts in round numbers, a pattern “consistent with potential money‑laundering activity”.
Bushiri and his wife Mary did not respond to questions emailed by journalists, but on social media he denied the SIU allegations, and his lawyer Victor Nkhwashu told eNCA that his residence permit was lawfully obtained.
How the immigration scam worked
Investigators say syndicate members used a consistent modus operandi:
- Enter South Africa on a holiday/tourist visa.
- Extend their stay.
- Enter into spousal or life‑partner arrangements with South African women (often on paper only).
- Use these relationships to apply for permanent residence permits (PRPs).
- Later divorce the South African partner.
- In some cases, apply for naturalisation and South African citizenship.
The SIU describes this as systemic exploitation of immigration pathways, aided by corrupt officials, forged documents, and identity theft.
Home Affairs insider and fake financials
In 2018, Bushiri applied for a permanent resident permit. The application was approved by Mandla Mutangwa, a home affairs official who, according to the SIU, was a member of Bushiri’s church and even moonlighted as his personal security guard.
To qualify, Bushiri submitted a letter of financial independence, allegedly drafted by a chartered accountant named Mr Motiram. But Motiram told the SIU he had not written the letter; it was prepared by a Nigerian man known to him as “Mr Dipo”, who paid him R500 just to sign it.
Dipo confirmed he drafted the letter and said Bushiri’s PRP application originated from Nigerian pastor Taiwo Ogunlade.
Other key players: Ogunlade, the Mkandas, Omotoso and Mandaiyese
The SIU names several alleged members of the network:
- Nigerian pastor Taiwo Ogunlade – runs multiple businesses and charities;
- His wife Susan;
- Sylvester Mkanda, a Malawian citizen and former adviser to Bushiri;
- Mkanda’s wife Hellen;
- Nigerian pastors Timothy Omotoso and Olugbenga Mandaiyese.
Timothy Omotoso, who had been on trial for rape, flew back to Nigeria last year after being acquitted on 32 rape charges by the Eastern Cape High Court.
The SIU says Ogunlade’s case “exemplifies systemic exploitation of immigration pathways and potential document fraud”, including:
- Fabricated relationship agreements,
- False naturalisation claims, and
- Co‑ordinated spousal fraud.
Mary Bushiri and the Mkandas
The report shows Mary Bushiri is under investigation for:
- Immigration fraud,
- Document falsification, and
- Money laundering.
Investigators found that documents submitted by Mary in support of her visa application showed “explicit similarities” to those used by Hellen Mkanda. Both women submitted sponsorship letters from Ogunlade, which the SIU says confirms his central role in organising fraudulent applications for foreigners.
The Mkandas allegedly obtained visas and PRPs through fraud and corruption:
- November 2015: Sylvester Mkanda applied for a visa renewal using a sponsorship letter, tenancy agreement and bank statements all linked to Ogunlade. It was approved within two weeks.
- November 2017: He applied for a retired person visa using fraudulent documents, including:
- a quota permit,
- medical and radiology reports,
- a CA letter,
- a deeds transfer letter, and
- FNB bank statements.
The visa was issued in under two weeks.
On 19 January 2017, the Mkandas registered Gigat Trading. Mkanda held a fraudulent quota permit and Hellen a critical skills visa, the SIU says.
Between November 2017 and January 2018, Bushiri – through a nonprofit company – made three payments totalling R1.15m to Gigat Trading.
“The rapid influx of R1.15m from Bushiri’s church into a newly formed company owned by individuals with fraudulent immigration status raises serious concerns about money laundering and the misuse of religious donations,” the SIU report notes.
Mkanda declined to answer detailed questions, saying he was not the only one involved with the Bushiris and Ogunlade.
Ogunlade’s path to citizenship and alleged identity theft
According to the SIU, Taiwo Ogunlade:
- Entered South Africa in December 2003.
- Allegedly entered a life‑partner arrangement with Thandeka Ntintili, and secured a PRP in February 2004.
- Cancelled this cohabitation arrangement in May 2011.
- Applied for naturalisation in May 2018, claiming a relationship with Duduzile Simelane, and was granted citizenship in August 2018.
But when Ntintili was interviewed, she denied knowing Ogunlade. Her ID number appears on the documents, but she says the signature is not hers. The SIU calls this a “clear case of identity theft”.
Ogunlade’s wife Susan is also under investigation:
- She arrived in 2004 on a temporary residency visa.
- Married Zakaria Thokozane Mthethwa in June 2004 and obtained permanent residence in October 2006.
- Applied for naturalisation in January 2010, approved in August 2010.
- Divorced Mthethwa in August 2014 and later married Ogunlade in March 2020.
The SIU says the Ogunlades, the Mkandas and Mandaiyese are still in South Africa, while investigations into immigration fraud, financial crimes and the misuse of religious donations continue.
The report paints a picture of a deeply compromised immigration system exploited by a network of foreign religious leaders, enabled by corrupt officials, and fuelled by the faith and finances of their followers.
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