Congregants were robbed at a church in Jouberton. Picture: Boxer Ngwenya
The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West has condemned the Easter weekend robbery of congregants at a church in Y100 section Jouberton, outside of Klerksdorp.
According to convenor Pastor Lesiba Kgwele, information from the police was that a congregant was outside on his phone, when five gunmen wearing balaclavas stormed the church ordering the members to lie down.
The men proceeded to search and rob other congregants of cash, handbags and cellphones before fleeing from the scene on foot.
Kgwele described the brazen attack as not only a disgrace but a barbaric act that had defiled the ‘sanctity’ of Good Friday as well as the Passover weekend.
He said what was worrying was that opportunistic criminals were targeting church gatherings and other places of worship, essentially threatening congregants’ constitutional right to freedom of assembly.
“No one will be safe until the marauding heartless gang is behind bars. We therefore call on our communities to assist the police who have launched a manhunt in pursuit of the robbers in their investigations.”
The party appealed to communities to unite in action against the cycle of violence and gangsterism prevalent in the area by reclaiming their, “activism to promote and harness collective responsibility among communities in the spirit of ubuntu.”
Kgwele said, “The effort to tackle the scourge of gangsterism in Matlosana must be bolstered by a strong partnership with our communities, established in order to restore the rule of law as well as residents' confidence in the criminal justice system.”
The Star
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