UMBILO Police will increase patrols along Umbilo Road in the wake of yet another devastating robbery at St Cyprian’s Anglican Church this week.
Father Dane Elsworth, rector at St Cyprian’s said thieves had stripped the church of copper for the fourth time in just five weeks. On Monday when Berea Mail visited the church, the interior was in a shocking state. Thieves have, since November, removed copper plates from the roof which caused leaks and allowed rainwater to soak through the ceiling boards, many of which have collapsed causing damage to the inside of the church below. The church organ, reportedly worth R3 million has also been damaged by rainwater.
Edith March from St Cyprian’s said the roof was collapsing bit by bit.
“It is shocking. We didn’t even know there was copper on the roof! We can’t use the church and have had to cancel our midnight mass this year. We will use the church hall for a Christmas service. All the woodwork including the benches in the church will have to be put in storage as they will get ruined if they get wet any further,” she said.
Thieves also stole the copper from the top of the drains on the walls of the church.
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“The insurance will be dealing with fixing the interior but we will have to deal with the roof, and with the ongoing rain, this is a problem. We hope to start with repairs on the roof this week. There has been millions of Rands damage done to the floors, ceiling and organ and it is going to cost this parish thousands of Rands to rectify this. It is sad that we have had to move from this magnificent building which was designed for worship, to the hall,” said Father Dane, who added that the church was going to need as much support as possible from the community during this time.
He said he had opened three cases at Umbilo SAPS.
“I was told by the police that the ‘whoonga guys’ from the Esplanade come up at around 2am in the morning to rob, and I want to know what the municipality is actually doing to address this issue,” he said.
Capt Pumzile Makaula from Umbilo SAPS confirmed that police had increased patrols in the area.
“We will also be checking second-hand shops and scrapyards in the area which might buy the copper. If anyone is found in possession of this, they will be arrested,” she said.
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