Duduza – The St John Apostolic Faith Mission in Duduza is pleading with residents living near the church to help protect their facility.
This comes as the church has been vandalised over the years and stripped of valuables by suspected nyaope addicts.
Culrpits have stolen valuables like the bell that the church bought when it opened its doors in 1967 and curtains that cover the pulpit.
Wheelchairs, walkers, first aid medical bags, steel baths, urn kettles and decorations from the wall are among other stolen items.
The regular break-ins have pushed patients, who used to stay in the boarding rooms, out of the church premises.
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Reverend Christopher Tabudi (75) said he doesn’t understand why criminals are still breaking into the church because they have stripped it of all valuables.
“We can no longer accommodate patients because we fear for their safety. These criminals used to break into the sick bays to steal the patients’ valuables,” he added.
Tabudi added that some of the parish members who visit the church are frail.
“We need wheelchairs to transport them,” he said.
The reverend is pleading with residents to help protect the church.
“We are urging them to scream when they see suspicious characters lurking around the church or to contact the police,” he added.
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