By Everson Luhanga
A blind pastor was shot and killed by a gang of criminals who robbed and shot at congregants during prayers in the early hours of Saturday morning in Ivory Park extension two, Thembisa.
Members of the community joined the congregants in chasing the criminals and they caught one suspect who was stoned and burnt to death.
Apostle Siboniso Ngobese, president of the Zion churches in the area, spoke to Scrolla.Africa.
“They came carrying guns and ordered everyone to lie down and surrender their valuables like phones and money,” he said.
Ngobese said a blind pastor lifted his head and was shot and killed and three congregants sustained gunshot wounds.
“Criminals might not have realised that he was blind. They might have thought he was defiant and trying to see their faces,” said Ngobese.
He said the men took one of the pastors and his wife into their house on the church premises where they stole money and the wife’s phone.
“She didn’t bring the phone into the church. When she couldn’t give the criminals her phone, two of the armed men pushed her and her husband into the house at gunpoint,” said Ngobese.
“The other robbers remained in the church, searching the congregants as they fired shots in the air.”
In a separate incident, an elderly woman was shot and killed inside a church in Vosloorus at the weekend. A pastor from the church was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and two more people were injured when three men stormed the church and robbed congregants of their belongings.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed both incidents.
“It is alleged that the congregants were inside the garage busy with church night service when two unknown men entered,” he said.
He said one of the suspects fired several shots, instructing everyone to lie down as they searched them. A third suspect joined them, taking cellphones, a television, and cash before they left the scene.
“After the suspects left the scene, it was discovered that a 62-year-old man was shot in the chest and succumbed to the injuries, while three victims are being treated in hospital,” he said.
Gauteng police are investigating a case of murder, attempted murder and house robbery.
Pictured above: The scene of the crime.
Image source: Supplied
