By ZOL Reporter
Johannesburg – October 8, 2025
Background: A Web of Faith and Finances
The long-running fraud and money laundering saga involving the famous Malawian pastor Shepherd Bushiri continues to cast a long shadow over South Africa’s legal system. At the center of the controversy now stands Willah Joseph Mudolo, a Zambian businessman based in South Africa who was once closely linked to Bushiri’s investment ventures — and who today finds himself entangled in a complex legal battle that refuses to fade.
Mudolo and his wife Zethu were arrested in October 2020 alongside Bushiri and others on charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering related to an alleged R102 million investment scheme. Prosecutors claim the accused lured investors with promises of high returns through Bushiri’s companies and church-affiliated projects, only for the funds to be siphoned off through elaborate transactions involving multiple entities — including one allegedly owned by Mudolo, Rising Estates.
Mudolo, however, insists he was a legitimate businessman and a victim, not a villain — claiming he neither orchestrated nor benefited from the alleged criminal conduct.
Delays, Disputes, and Denials
Since 2020, the case has been mired in procedural delays, accusations of misconduct, and jurisdictional challenges. The Bushiris famously fled South Africa in November that year, violating their bail conditions and escaping to Malawi, leaving their co-accused — including Mudolo — to face the courts alone.
Mudolo remained in South Africa and maintained his innocence, arguing he was unaware of many of the suspicious transactions passing through his accounts. His lawyers have repeatedly accused the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of mishandling the case and pursuing him as a scapegoat for Bushiri’s alleged crimes.
In early 2025, the Pretoria High Court finally moved the matter to trial, but proceedings stalled again after Mudolo’s legal team argued that the case was “not trial ready.” Judge Mokhine Mosopa dismissed these claims, warning the defense against “tactical delays” and ruling that the trial must proceed unless “exceptional reasons” were shown.
Allegations Against the Prosecutor
The already complex case took a dramatic turn when Mudolo accused the State’s lead prosecutor, Advocate Desire Rosenblatt, of perjury and defeating the ends of justice. He alleged that Rosenblatt had failed to properly serve key court documents, misled the court during bail proceedings, and acted with bias.
Rosenblatt has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “baseless and desperate attempts to derail the trial.” The NPA has continued to back her, emphasizing that the case against Mudolo remains based on “extensive financial evidence” linking him to irregular transactions.
Escalating the Fight
Frustrated with the slow progress and what he describes as judicial harassment, Mudolo has escalated his fight beyond the South African legal system. In May 2025, he announced plans to petition both the Constitutional Court and international bodies, including The Hague, alleging that his constitutional rights had been violated and that he was being targeted unfairly.
In media interviews, Mudolo claimed he had cooperated with authorities from the beginning, unlike Bushiri, who fled, and said the ongoing prosecution “serves political and religious agendas rather than justice.”
The Road Ahead
As of October 2025, the case remains unresolved. The High Court has postponed the trial to January 2026, with the NPA vowing to proceed despite the procedural challenges. Meanwhile, Mudolo’s parallel legal bids — including constitutional appeals and misconduct complaints — are still pending.
Legal analysts say the case illustrates the tension between faith-based influence, financial regulation, and criminal justice in South Africa. “The Bushiri-Mudolo saga is no longer just about fraud,” one legal expert observed. “It’s about the integrity of the system itself.”
Public Reaction and Broader Impact
Public sentiment remains divided. Supporters of Bushiri and Mudolo see the prosecutions as persecution of successful African entrepreneurs within the charismatic church movement. Critics argue that the saga exposes how easily financial manipulation can hide behind the facade of faith.
For now, Willah Mudolo remains out on bail, but his future is uncertain. The looming 2026 trial promises to be a defining moment — not only for him but for South Africa’s efforts to hold religious and business figures accountable when faith meets finance.
ENDS