The family members of Diepsloot slain pastor said they were living in fear after two members of the family had their cellphones stolen by someone who pretended to be an official from the church.
Pastor Vincent Skhakhane was shot and killed inside the church allegedly by five unknown suspects who stormed the church during a service on October 14. Another two members of his church were also shot and suffered injuries when unknown suspects robbed congregants’ of their cellphones and money.
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Family spokesperson Nomusa Nethononda said a woman, who claimed to be from the church’s welfare, came to the house of the deceased and asked two members of the family to accompany her to the shops on October 17. “The woman came here with an [e-hailing] car and told the family that she was sent by the pastors to help buy groceries for the funeral. Two members of the family went to the shops with her. On their arrival at the grocery store, the lady asked to use their phones in order to make calls and count the amount of goods bought.”
Nethononda said the woman claimed to have spoken to the pastors and disappeared with the victims’ phones, leaving both family members and driver waiting for her to come back.
“They waited, until they realised that the woman was not coming back. The driver, who was also not paid by the woman, brought them back. We suspect that she was sent to do this and we are now living in fear.”
The chairperson of Diepsloot Pastor’s Forum, Bishop Setume Dlothi condemned the church robbery and killing of the pastor.
“Diepsloot has become a crime zone with places of worship being robbed almost every day. We hope that justice will be served for Pastor Skhakhane, his family and congregants at Holiness Christian Revival Church.”
Diepsloot Police Station spokesperson Captain Tinyiko Mathebula said a case of theft was opened at the station and detectives were assigned to investigate it. “We cannot confirm whether there is a link between the murder case and this one but the investigations will give us answers.”
Mathebula confirmed that there have been cases of church robberies reported at the station before.
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