A pastor was shot dead moments after being pulled out of a church service by a gun-wielding man at Doornkop‚ outside Middelburg‚ Mpumalanga‚ police said on Friday.
The incident happened earlier this week.
“The clergyman‚ Pastor Christopher Mokwena‚ aged 34‚ was conducting a church service when a certain man forced him out of the church at gunpoint. The suspect allegedly told the congregants to proceed with the service as he had some business to take care of with their pastor‚” said Colonel Mtsholi Bembe.
“Some of the congregants reportedly went to investigate‚ while summoning the police. Mokwena was found lying in a pool of blood about 200 metres from the church. Mokwena had bullet wounds on the upper body and was certified dead at the scene by paramedics‚” Bembe said.
In a separate incident‚ gunmen attacked another church at Mzinti‚ near Malelane‚ robbing congregants of cash and cellphones.
“The incident reportedly occurred just before midnight‚ while the congregants were attending a church service. Two men wearing balaclavas stormed in and held everyone at gunpoint. The suspects then robbed them of their cellphones‚ cash and a motor vehicle‚ which was later found abandoned at neighbouring Emagogeni‚” said Bembe.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Mondli Zuma expressed shock at the incidents‚ saying churches were places where people were meant to feel safe.
He promised a thorough investigation.
Naledi Shange— TimesLIVE
