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Armed Robbers Strike Mkhuhlu Church for the Second Time This Month
A community in fear as churches targeted
What should have been a peaceful Sunday gathering in Mkhuhlu, near Hazyview, turned into another terrifying ordeal when armed robbers stormed a local church on 24 August at midday. Congregants were ordered to the ground at gunpoint, gunshots were fired into the ceiling, and personal belongings, including cash, jewellery, and cellphones, were taken.
The attackers fled in a congregant’s VW Polo, leaving worshippers shaken and deeply unsettled. Police confirmed the incident, but no arrests have been made yet.
This marks the second time in just three weeks that a church in the same area has been hit by violent robbers.
Echoes of an earlier attack
On 3 August, worshippers at the Pentecost Church in Mkhuhlu were ambushed by two armed men moments before their service began. Many of the congregants were women, as the men of the congregation were attending a symposium in Masoyi, about 100 kilometres away.
In that attack, robbers made off with cellphones, handbags, wallets, car keys, and even the collection plate of R1 220. They fled in a white Toyota Fortuner belonging to one of the members. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Marite Trust, but most of the valuables were gone. Police recovered handbags, car keys, and spent cartridges at the scene.
Local unease and police response
The repetition of such crimes in a short space of time has unsettled the Mkhuhlu community. For many, church is not only a place of worship but also a safe space to gather and connect. The back-to-back robberies have now replaced that sense of safety with anxiety.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli urged community members to come forward with information. Anyone with knowledge of the suspects or their whereabouts is encouraged to contact the nearest police station, call the SAPS toll-free number 08600 10111, or make use of the My SAPS app.
A broader concern
The attacks highlight a worrying trend in South Africa, where religious spaces, traditionally seen as sanctuaries, are no longer off-limits to violent crime. It is not the first time Mpumalanga has seen churches targeted, but the back-to-back nature of these robberies has sparked fresh calls for greater security and awareness.
For congregants, the question now is not only about stolen possessions but about how safe they truly are in spaces meant for worship.
Also read: “Time for Her to Lead,” ANC Women’s League Renews Call for South Africa’s First Female President
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Shutterstock
