Three armed robbers stormed a church in Mkhuhlu near Hazyview at about 12:00 yesterday, threatening the congregation with firearms.

According to Lowvelder, they fired shots into the ceiling, ordered congregants to lie on the floor, and demanded their cellphones, jewellery and cash. After the robbery, the suspects fled in a congregant’s VW Polo.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli confirmed the incident.

“No arrests have been made so far, but investigations are ongoing,” he said.

It is the second time in three weeks that a church in Mkhuhlu has been robbed.

In the first incident on August 3, a group of female congregants of the Pentecost Church were left traumatised after two armed men stormed into their church just as they were about to pray.

“The suspects got away with cellphones, wallets, handbags and vehicle keys. They also took the collection money, amounting to R1 220,” Mdhluli said at the time.

He said the robbers fled in a white Toyota Fortuner that belonged to one of the congregants. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Marite Trust near the Carlton fuel station. The handbags and car keys were found in the vehicle, but the cellphones and cash were missing. Police had also recovered several spent cartridges inside the church.

The women were attending church while the men had been at a symposium in Masoyi, about 100km away.

No arrests had been made in connection with this incident either.

Mdhluli urged anyone with information about either of these incidents to contact the nearest police station, call the SAPS toll-free number on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS app.

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