Question NW2937 to the President of the Republic

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05 January 2021 - NW2937

Profile picture: van der Merwe, Ms LL

van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the President of the Republic

Whether he intends to instruct the Special Investigating Unit to launch an investigation, and make public the findings thereof, into the role of government departments and/or institutions in aiding and abetting the self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary Bushiri, to leave the Republic, despite the court having ordered the couple to remain within the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the exact details of the (a) envisaged date when the investigation will be conducted, (b) terms of reference of the investigation and (c) envisaged date of publication of the findings; (2) whether his Cabinet has taken any steps to respond to his announcement made at the Joint Sitting of Parliament in September 2019 that all who live in South Africa must be legally permitted to do so and that police and immigration officials who take bribes in return for fraudulent documents must be dealt with firmly; if not, why not, if so, what are the details of the progress made in this regard to date?

Reply:

1. The circumstances surrounding the departure of Mr Shepherd Bushiri and Ms Mary Bushiri from South Africa is currently under investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and there is no indication at this stage that this is matter that requires an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit.

2. The statement to which the Honourable Member refers reflects the current legal position, which the law enforcement agencies are required to – and which they continue to – enforce.

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