PASTOR John Hlatshwayo of the Lambs of God Church in Mawewe, near Malelane in Mpumalanga said most tsotsis in his village now pretend to be Bible-punching Christians.
He claimed: “They no longer prowl the streets. They are still thugs but now they rob people while armed with Bibles and holy water.
“These greedy pastors make their congregations pay big tithes and buy suspicious healing products from them.”
Hlatshwayo said they have just changed their profession.
“We were facing a series of burglaries until 10 years ago when a pastor came to do a revival in our village. It attracted many tsotsis and today most of them have opened churches.
“These tsotsi pastors are still stealing but not at night with weapons, but during the day, carrying their Bibles.”
He said he believes in forgiveness. The pastor said people who repent are loved by God.
“Tsotsis must first change their ways and not continue with their bad behaviour. These pastors continue robbing innocent people using all sorts of techniques.”
Resident Lindiwe Dladla (43) said she knows of three men she grew up with who were convicted tsotsis but have now become men of the cloth.
“If these tsotsi pastors are stopped they will start organising violent crimes. So let them rob people who enjoy being robbed.
“People must stop judging them but thank them instead as they’ve brought peace to our society.”
An ex-convict turned pastor (39), who was jailed for murder, said he came to know God while behind bars.
“I became a born again Christian. I do not rob people. They give because they want to give.”
Newly ordained Pastor Sibusiso Simelane said the challenge faced by former convicts was preaching to the same people they had wronged in the past.
“I did ungodly things in my previous life. I would go as far as denying God,” he said.
