South African church attack: Five dead after ‘hostage situation’

Five people have been killed after attackers stormed a South African church, reportedly amid an argument over its leadership.

South African police said they had rescued men, women and
children from a “hostage situation” on the outskirts of Johannesburg
on Saturday morning.

They have also arrested at least 40 people, and seized
dozens of weapons.

Eyewitnesses say the men who stormed the International
Pentecostal Holiness Church were part of a splinter group.

The church’s leadership has reportedly been the subject of
infighting since its former leader died in 2016. Police had previously been
called to the church following a shoot-out between members in 2018, South
Africa’s IOL reports.

The year before, the church’s finances had come under the
spotlight, amid allegations some 110m rand (Ksh702.6 million) had gone missing,
according to The Sowetan newspaper.

On Saturday, police were called to the church in Zuurbekom
in the West Rand at 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT).

According to national police spokesperson Brigadier Vish
Naidoo, a group of attackers indicated to those inside “that they were
coming to take over the premises”.

He said four people had been found shot and burnt to death
in cars, while a security guard, who was thought to have been responding to the
incident, was also fatally shot.

Five rifles, 16 shotguns and 13 pistols, along with other
weapons, were found at the church, which police have been combing for evidence.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said that among
those arrested were members of SAPS, the South African National Defence Force,
the Johannesburg Metro Police Department and the Department of Correctional
Services.

The International Pentecostal Holiness Church is thought to
have about three million members in Southern Africa.