[gallery ids="43988,43989,43990,43991,43992,43993,43994"]
Supporters of Prophet Shepherd Bushiri would recognise the characteristic “It is done” catchphrase that punctuates his sermons, but many may be curious to peek inside one of his and wife Mary’s homes.
Entering the double volume entrance area of their Waterfall estate, the sound of water cascading over a fountain into a small pool is morphed by the spiral staircases that curve around the pond. Huge chandeliers and a skylight deliver added drama to set the tone for one of the Bushiri’s city homes, situated on one of Joburg’s most expensive housing enclaves.
Dark wood tones dance with recessed lighting and the en-suite bedrooms boast over-sized beds and opulent tones of burgundy and coral. The main bedroom has a dressing area and an outdoor shower. Parking for four cars and access to audio-visuals ensure every need is catered to.
Picture: Itumeleng English/African News Agency (ANA)
The home speaks to the Prophet’s other catchphrase “Power” and he admits to enjoying every luxury in the home. A built-in cappuccino machine and a walk-in pantry are just two of these indulgences in the Bushiris’ gleaming kitchen. Corian tops and sleek, silver hardware reflect the high-end appliances and the adjacent dining area.
Behind every prophet is a Prophetess – Prophetess Mary Bushiri is herself a public and spiritual figure. She has the gift of impeccable taste and the luxury to dabble in luxurious décor. Her five-bedroom home carries the thread of metallic throughout. Gold and platinum curtaining, marble tiles with a regal look, lush fabrics on ornate seats and filmy taffeta complete the look.
Picture: Itumeleng English/African News Agency (ANA)
“My style is very much experimental - I enjoy being adventurous with patterns and rich colour,” says the glamorous wife of SA’s most popular preacher.
With 1 million followers on Facebook and 2 million confirmed church followers, Prophet Bushiri, born in Malawi, is no stranger to SA citizens. The couple have two young daughters and live in a home in Centurion. They own several more and are busy developing a dream abode on neighbouring Waterfall Equestrian estate.
The prophet, well-known for his engaging and protracted sermons (some lasting 6-7 hours) has been fasting. For 90 days he has been going to Rustenburg daily to pray. At Waterfall he says, “at home, you relax. God will provide and we can just relax.”
With a convoy of cars and butlers at his side and two Gulfstream jets, Bushiri can easily travel to his eight other churches around the country. The Pretoria showgrounds house his regular sermons (Friday and Sundays) where hundreds of thousands of congregants gather each week. They fill up a number of halls, each decked with large screen TVs. And the prophet has taken advantage of this expanded network and the audience numbers by branching into other businesses.
Picture: Itumeleng English/African News Agency (ANA)
His latest project, launched recently, is an ambitious cell-phone network angled at his followers, and they are lapping it up.
The PSB network logged 6 000 users after just 2 weeks. The packs and pre-paid airtime is available on Sundays at the service and is proving popular within the preacher’s eco-system.
To embrace the free-to-air broadcasting of his sermon’s the mobile network was conceptualised, causing a disruption in the market says Bushiri, who describes himself as a trailblazing African Theologian.