South African politician sacked over visit to fugitive pastor

A top official in one of South Africa's biggest political parties has been sacked after he visited a controversial Malawian pastor in April.

Floyd Shivambu has been removed as secretary-general of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party barely six months into the job after he attended an Easter service at self-proclaimed pastor Shepherd Bushiri's church.

Mr Bushiri, from Malawi, was one of Southern Africa's best-known preachers when he was arrested and charged with fraud in South Africa in 2020.
After being released on bail, he managed to flee to his home country in unclear circumstances. South Africa has been trying to extradite him ever since.

Mr Bushiri denies any wrongdoing and, together with his wife Mary, has applied to review a judgment that approved their extradition to South Africa, according to local news site Eyewitness News.

The MK party, which was founded by former President Jacob Zuma, said in a press conference on Wednesday that Mr Shivambu's removal came after his actions, which "were found to be against the spirit and prescripts of the MK party's constitution".

"The president and national officials were left with no other option but to act swiftly," said MK national chair Nathi Nhleko.

He added that the trip "was not an officially sanctioned programme of the organisation".