New target for criminals now firmly entrenched in South Africa
The SAPS have raised alarm over a growing trend of criminals targeting churches and their congregants, with several robberies reported in recent weeks.
The problem first came to light in 2024 as reports of armed robberies during worship services began surfacing in multiple provinces.
The Cultural, Religious and Linguistic (CRL) Rights Commission also sounded the alarm last year, warning that criminals were increasingly preying on churches.
It noted that while attacks on congregants were not entirely new, the scale and brazenness of these crimes were escalating.
Criminals often enter church services posing as worshippers, taking advantage of the quiet and trusting atmosphere.
Once the congregation is engaged in prayer or worship, they brandish weapons and use intimidation to seize cash, smartphones, and other valuables.
Churches are particularly attractive targets because they collect cash offerings, and congregants often carry personal items, such as phones and wallets.
In one incident earlier this year, armed robbers stormed a Sunday service in Gauteng, holding worshippers at gunpoint before fleeing with cash, phones, and jewellery.
A similar attack occurred in KwaZulu-Natal during a weekday prayer meeting, where congregants were forced to lie face down as criminals looted their belongings.
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape have seen the highest number of such cases. Still, incidents are now being reported in other regions as well.
Mpumalanga, in particular, has experienced a worrying rise in church robberies, prompting urgent intervention from the police.
Mpumalanga Police Spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdluli said the attacks, which involve armed suspects robbing congregants of their phones, cash, and vehicles during services, have become a major concern.
“Yes, we have registered these cases, which are a concern for us. The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga has ordered all station commanders to engage with faith-based organisations to find ways of working together to curb these incidents,” Mdluli said.
According to Mdluli, police have been meeting with church leaders in areas such as KaNyamazane, eMalahleni, and Mkhuhlu to strengthen collaboration and develop preventive measures.
He explained that criminals see churches as easy targets because worshippers are unarmed and often distracted.
Organised groups
Mdluli also appealed to communities not to support the trade in stolen goods. “When criminals steal from churchgoers, they usually sell the items quickly—maybe an iPhone for a cheap price,” he said.
“When you buy that, you’re encouraging them because it creates a market for crime. We’re discouraging people from buying suspected stolen property and urging them to report anyone found with suspicious items.”
Police have made some progress in combating the trend. “We’ve arrested several suspects involved in church robberies in eMalahleni and also recovered stolen vehicles in KaNyamazane,” Mdluli said.
“In one case, three suspects who robbed a church were arrested, and we are still pursuing others.” He noted that while some of the attacks are opportunistic, others appear to be carefully coordinated.
“Our preliminary findings show that organised groups carry out some of these incidents, while others are spur-of-the-moment crimes,” he said.
“They know that people in churches are relaxed and carrying valuables. Sometimes they enter in groups, fire shots to scare congregants, and then rob them.”
He confirmed that patrols and intelligence-driven operations have been intensified in affected areas. “We’ve been working hard in the Mkhuhlu area.”
“After the first robbery, we arrested some suspects and recovered stolen vehicles and handbags, although some money and phones have not yet been found. We’re intensifying our patrols to prevent further attacks,” he said.
Mdluli stressed that tackling this problem requires collective effort. “This can be a war we can win if we work collaboratively,” he said.
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