Church held at gunpoint — worshippers robbed, shots fired

Nelspruit — Police in Mpumalanga have opened an investigation following an armed robbery at a church in Mkhuhlu, Calcutta, on Sunday morning.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), three unidentified suspects allegedly entered the church around 11:45 while congregants were worshipping.

Armed with firearms, the suspects reportedly instructed everyone to lie down before stealing cellphones, cash, and car keys from the attendees.

The suspects fled the scene in a white Volkswagen Polo, reportedly belonging to one of the congregants. During the robbery, the suspects discharged several shots inside the church, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.

#sapsMP #SAPS launched an investigation into a case of business robbery that occurred at a church in Mkhuhlu, Calcutta, on Sunday, 24 /08, at approximately 11:45. The armed suspects robbed the congregants of their cellphones, cash, and car keys and fled the scene in a white VW… pic.twitter.com/igqlsKVbor

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) August 25, 2025

Police and other stakeholders were dispatched to the scene, where several spent cartridges were recovered. No arrests have been made so far, and the investigation is ongoing.

Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, condemned the attack, saying: “It is deeply concerning that criminals now boldly target places of worship, which should be sanctuaries of peace and safety.”

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspects to contact Lieutenant Colonel Skhumbuzo Ceko at 082 922 9902, the SAPS Crime Stop number at 08600 10111, or use the MySAPS App.

All tips will be treated confidentially, and callers may remain anonymous.