South African government has welcomed the ruling in the Shepherd and Mary Bushiri extradition matter delivered by Malawi’s Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe on Wednesday.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development of that country  the Republic of South Africa describes the ruling as a significant milestone in international legal cooperation and public trust in the South African and Malawian legal institutions, among others.

High Court Judge Madalitso Chimwaza, who was sitting as Chief Resident Magistrate, found the couple with cases to answer bordering on rape, forgery, violating bail conditions and fraud.

Meanwhile, the Court in the capital Lilongwe has allowed the self-proclaimed prophet and his wife Mary to appeal the case ahead of their extradition to South Africa to answer multiple criminal charges.

The two bolted the rainbow nation a few years ago.