Shopping centres in Diepsloot, north west of Johannesburg, have been shut amid fears of looting. This follows a robbery at a church on Friday night which resulted in the shooting and subsequent death of a pastor and injury to two other congregants.
The police said in a statement that they are on the search for about five suspects who were involved in the murder and robbery at the local church.
Diepsloot Community leader Sicelo Shezi says the situation is tense and police are monitoring the area.
“The community of Diepsloot is living in fear as a result of crime which has gone up in the area. There’s a group of people which seems to be targeting churches, business people, individuals who come from work and shoot them. So the community is so angry, frustrated and they do not know what to do now,” says Shezi.
Since April, the township has been under the spotlight following the death of a man due to mob justice and the eruption of unrest which ensued thereafter. Residents have since called for the police to be proactive about dealing with the high levels of crime in the area.
#sapsGP Police in Gauteng on the lookout for about five armed suspects who stormed into a church in Diepsloot and fired shots that led to the death of the pastor and the injury of two congregants on 14/10. Info -> #CrimeStop 08600 10111 or #MySAPSApp. NPhttps://t.co/D3Ikgd7jif pic.twitter.com/mZX50FPKyA
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) October 15, 2022
