KwaMhlanga– Police in KwaMhlanga have launched a manhunt after six armed men stormed a church in Suncity A during a night prayer service, robbing congregants at gunpoint.
The incident happened just before midnight on Friday night, 29 August 2025, where approximately 60 worshippers had gathered. Police said the suspects ordered congregants to lie on the ground and stole mobile phones, wallets, clothing items, and an undisclosed amount of cash. Before fleeing, they switched off the lights to cover their escape.
Acting SAPS Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, condemned the attack, describing it as a reflection of the moral decay in society. He called on church leaders to strengthen collaboration with law enforcement.
“This type of robbery at places of worship is deeply concerning. We call on our three SAPS districts to engage more actively with faith-based organisations, as was recently done in Calcutta. Community members must also refrain from buying suspected stolen property, as it fuels such crimes,” said General Mkhwanazi.
The police have opened a case of business robbery. No arrests have been made. The public is urged to provide information anonymously via the Crime Stop line (08600 10111) or the MySAPS app.
The robbery is the third attack on places of worship in Mpumalanga this month. Two similar incidents were reported in the Calcutta policing precinct in Bushbuckridge.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, has called on churches across the province to adopt stricter security measures to protect worshippers.
“These recent attacks are a clear indication that more still needs to be done to secure our communities. What happened in these robberies is unacceptable, and we must all work together to ensure our places of worship remain safe. The men and women in blue must continue to work tirelessly to bring these perpetrators to justice,” said MEC Macie.
