JOHANNESBURG - Former Hawks Head General Godfrey Lebeya wants self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri to return to South Africa to clear his name in court.
Bushiri has protested his innocence, saying he fled South Africa to escape extortion by law enforcement officials, including Lebeya.
Lebeya denied any interaction with Bushiri.
The self-proclaimed prophet alleged that senior SAPS and Hawks officials wanted to extort money from him.
Bushiri says that a man believed Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramoloko called him to a farm.
At the farm, he promised that for R2-million he could get Bushiri in touch with Lebeya and his case would go away.
Lebeya says perhaps Bushiri's security guard, who was allegedly helping facilitate the meeting, deceived him.
"I cannot make cases go away," says Lebeya.
"I am the one who must ensure that I secure their attendance in court, which is what we have done with Bushiri," he adds.
Lebeya says he has reached out to Ramoloko to understand the allegations of extortion; however, he is firm that he has never sent anyone to speak on his behalf.
Bushiri and his wife, Mary, were arrested in November 2020 on charges of fraud and money laundering.
Additional charges include rape, violating bail conditions, contravention of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, Banking Act, Civil Aviation Act, and the Immigration Act.
They skipped the country after being granted bail back to their home country.
They were granted R200,000 bail each.
In March 2025, a Malawian court ruled in favour of Bushiri, blocking his extradition to South Africa.
A Home Affairs official was fired in 2022 for gross negligence and dishonesty. This comes after they granted permanent residency to the alleged prophet.
Lebeya says no cases against Bushiri and his wife will go away and they need to face the music back in South Africa.