“These Criminals Are So Heartless”: SA on Vosloorus Church Theft That Left One Dead and Two Injured
- Gun-wielding assailants charged a church in Vosloorus, shooting and killing one congregant and injuring two others
- The group of men reportedly robbed the congregants of their cellphones and made off with R400 of offering money
- Police revealed that four gunmen were involved and have opened cases of murder, attempted murder, business robbery and house robbery
Zingisa Chirwa is an experienced Briefly News journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, who has covered police investigations and current affairs on radio for over 15 years. Do you have a political story you would like to share? Email zingisa.chirwa@briefly.co.za with CA in the subject line
Source: Getty Images
A group of men killed one person and left two others critically injured at the Vision of God Church in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, on 31 March 2024.
Assailants rob congregants at gunpoint
Eyewitnesses said the men entered the premises and shot and killed a woman who tried to warn the congregation about the assailants.
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According to TimesLIVE, the pastor rushed to close the door to block the intruders, but he, too, was shot.
The men then instructed congregants to lie on the floor before stealing their cellphones, R400 offering money and shooting another church member who was preparing food in the kitchen.
Police open murder and attempted murder cases
Gauteng police said a preliminary probe has revealed that four gunmen were involved in the attack.
According to News24, Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said a case of murder, attempted murder, business robbery and house robbery had been opened.
Ekurhuleni's Thatha Zonke Anti-Crime Unit revealed that security personnel and intelligence officers were following information to help them find the culprits.
South Africans' views on the brutal church attack
Many netizens shared their concerns about the brazen crime.
MakeSss asked:
“ What is happening to our country?”
SK_MANV said:
“These criminals are so heartless, their consciousness is completely dead .”
Mkhulu Bae commented:
“Crime in South Africa is being done without shame. I mean, when did we get to robbing churches and killing people inside churches? Churches are meant to be safe spots for everyone...not hotspots for crime of this magnitude.”
GWYVARAadded:
“Tell me these are not candidates for Death Penalty.”
Patriot101 concluded:
“There is going to come a time where the ordinary South African is going to arm themselves to the teeth, form groups and co-ops and start hunting down criminals.”
KZN church robbed during live stream
In related Briefly News, a group of armed criminals entered a church to steal.
In a video shared online, the criminal casually walked into a church while the pastor was giving a sermon during a livestream.
The intruder robbed the preacher while he stood at the pulpit.
Source: Briefly News
