Malawi High Court blocks Shepherd and Mary Bushiri’s extradition to South Africa

Self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, have won a major legal battle after the High Court of Malawi overturned an earlier ruling that approved their extradition to South Africa.

The decision, delivered on Friday, 31 October 2025, by Justice Mzonde Mvula, found that the extradition process was procedurally flawed and violated the couple’s constitutional rights.

Justice Mvula ruled that the proceedings against the Bushiris failed to uphold Malawi’s principles of fairness, equality, and the right to life.

“The right to life is more paramount than the availability to face trial,” said Mvula.

“The Magistrate did not balance the plight of the applicants who, time and again, fell victim to extortion by the police of Gauteng Province, who persisted in threats and intimidation. The hearing was one-sided. Applicants were never allowed to present their side of the story.”

The High Court’s ruling nullifies the March 2025 decision by the Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court, which had ordered the couple’s committal to prison pending their surrender to South African authorities.

Mvula added that the lower court failed to uphold justice and that his ruling corrects that oversight.

“The conclusion the Magistrate arrived at to extradite does not follow from the premises extradition is sought. The Magistrate lacked the brevity to stand by the course of justice,” he stated.

The ruling effectively halts South Africa’s efforts to bring the couple back to face a series of charges, including fraud, forgery, and rape.