- On Sundays 15 and 29 October, congregants walked out of the JL Zwane Centre to find their vehicles had been vandalised.
- At least six cars were left damaged and two were broken into, and items stolen included laptops, cellphones and tools.
- The incidents left congregants, particularly victims, rattled.
A decidedly ungodly trend seems to be befalling people performing Sunday observances when they emerge at the end of it to find premises and vehicles damaged and/or broken into.
On Sunday 29 October, congregants walked out of the JL Zwane Centre to find their vehicles had been vandalised, an almost satanic twist to a deeply spiritual encounter.
At least six cars were left damaged and two were broken into, and items stolen included laptops, cellphones and tools.
Acting Gugulethu Police Station commander Cyril Nkuna said at least one case of malicious damage to property and theft from motor vehicle was opened.
He confirmed these occurred on Sundays 15 and 29 October and the items stolen, and that police were investigating the matter.
A church leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the apparent trend as “worrying”, occurring as they did two weeks after each other.
In the first incident, Sunday 15 October, thieves vandalised the alarm system and CCTV cameras before making away with two laptops and cellphones. “There are other things, but we are not sure we realise some items when we search for them,” the pastor said. “We have no clue at this stage what happened and police never came. I had to go and personally open the case.”
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He said the incident left congregants, particularly victims, rattled. “It is a terrible situation,” he declared, and efforts were underway to beef security up around the church. “Otherwise people won’t come to church. We will ensure that during the service men take turns to protect people and our assets. This is where people get their spirits lifted, and we do not want to lose members. Some members come from the suburbs and will not feel safe coming here.”
The pastor holds that churches are under siege from evil forces and thugs. He cited many other incidents experienced by churches around the country on social media. “These things happen everywhere. We are trying our best to calm them down but God will prevail.”
The pastor, attending service in Nyanga when the last incident occurred and was alerted to it added: “It pains and worries me. Members are traumatised, everyone questioning ‘why me? why my car?’ I have run counselling sessions to put them at their ease.”