Church members speak up after robbery
"They are just not afraid of God, if they were, they wouldn't have done this."
Rietag police spokesperson Captain Stephen Maluleka said the men stormed to the church during a service and fired a shot, before robbing congregants of their money and cellphones at gunpoint.
The incident happened around 11:00.
“The suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of money and 20 cellphones from the congregants.”
No one was injured during the robbery.
A church member who was in the church at the time of the robbery, Paulinah Mnyakeni, said she was shaking and very scared when the criminals robbed the church.
“When I heard the gunshots, I just lay on the ground and didn’t look at them; fortunately, my phone was in my hand and they did not see it. For the duration of the robbery, I was just facing down.”
Mnyakeni said some of the church members who were sitting near the windows, threw their phones out so they could not be taken by the robbers.
She said despite this experience, nothing will stop her from going to church again.
“They are just not afraid of God; if they were, they wouldn’t have done this. I am sure where they are they know the police are looking for them. I am still going to go to church.”
Another victim, Jabulalni Mnyakeni, said what happened on Sunday was “very bad” and he was still “not feeling well about it”.
He said the incident happened while they were praying.
“People’s belongings and cellphones were taken. My bank cards, my ID is gone and I have now also had to apply for a new licence. They also took my wedding ring and my cellphone.”
Jabulani said despite what happened on Sunday, nothing will separate him from the love of God.
“They can take whatever they want to take, but my love for God will never change, nothing will disturb me. This is something that will pass.
“The Bible says the fight is for the Lord, so if they are fighting with us, it means they are fighting with God because we are his children.
“What happened is not right, the church should be a place where people feel safe. But we need to be strong because this shall pass as well.”
Last year, a similar incident happened happened in Soshanguve block Y while church members were in rehearsals.
Congregants were ordered at gunpoint to lie down on the floor. The robbers took four cellphones, a music system, a keyboard and an amplifier.
Police asked for anyone in the community with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to come forward.
“They can contact the station on 012-432-7806/7 or Crime Stop line 08600-10111. Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via My SAPS APP.”
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