GAUTENG MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko, said there is a concern about the spate of crime on churches.
Speaking at Faith Based Organisation Imbizo held at Birchwood Conference Centre on Wednesday, 1 November, Mazibuko said thugs no longer respect the place of worship.
“The rampant crime that is now happening, criminals now are targeting churches they know no I respect their places of worship," she said.
“We have gathered here today to develop safety plans on what needs to be done as church people and what we need to do to make sure that our churches and the spaces are also safe,” she said.
The MEC said aid for churches exists within communities, and they need to involve communities to work together and be able to fight all the criminal activities within church facilities.
ALSO READ: Imposter bust in exam cheating scandal!
Archbishop Thomas Khoza from Katlehong South in Ekurhuleni said the issue of drugs in the communities contributes to crime.
“The drug addicts target churches to steal and rob people to feed their drug habits," he said.
“The crime on churches is affecting everyone. We go to church to pray while the thugs see us as targets."
Pastor Duma from Orange Farm said police cannot fight crime alone, but they need community support.
"We need to take ownership of our areas to ensure we report crimes, and we urged police to dispatch patrolling vans near the churches,” he said.
The pastor said thugs robbed the churchgoers of their belongings at gunpoint in separate incidents.
"A pastor was even killed during a service. The incident was captured on the video," he said.
"These show thugs they can target anyone, and this is a concern of the safety of the people who go to the churches to worship."
