Pretoria - The sixth commandment in the Bible instructs not to kill - but a bitter dispute about church leadership turned violent when peop...
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Pretoria - The sixth commandment in the Bible instructs not to kill - but a bitter dispute about church leadership turned violent when people fought in the grounds and in the church itself.
All hell broke loose in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church when members turned against each other on Wednesday night. Peter Nkomo (40) of Block B in Mabopane was stoned and died at the church in Block AA, Soshanguve, Tshwane after he was attacked just minutes after arriving at the church.Kgomotso Mashapu, a taxi owner, said he was hired by Peter to transport members from the Tshwane CBD to the church. “When I arrived I was shocked to see bouncers, but most of the people were dressed in church uniform so I thought it would be okay,” he said.
He said when they arrived at the church, Peter’s car, a grey Alfa Romeo, was leading the way followed by a white Toyota Corolla and an Audi. But when they got to the church they were told to park outside – and a fight broke out immediately.
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| Death by Stoning |
“I fled in fear,” said Kgomotso. Kgomotso’s friend, taxi driver Mpho Mohlala (34), who was also transporting church-goers, said that he was dragged from his taxi and men in church uniform started attacking him.
“Peter was the first to be dragged out. It was really bad and I did not understand why church people were fighting each other or why I was being attacked,” he said.
The fighting raged throughout the churchyard and even inside the church. “He died inside the church,” said Mpho.
“When the ambulance came to fetch him he was already gone.” The church’s exco vice-chairman, Abie Wessie, said the children of God were praying peacefully when church members from other branches stormed the church in the middle of their prayer and started attacking them. “They retaliated and overpowered their attackers.”
He said Peter was a close friend of Tshepiso Modise, who is contesting the leadership of the church.
By late yesterday another person who had been attacked and admitted to hospital was reported dead. The name of the person who died has not been released yet.
Rietgat police spokesman Warrant Officer Lolo Mangena said four people had been arrested in connection with Peter’s death. He said three people were admitted to hospital after the attacks and about six cases of assault were opened.
“Six cars were severely damaged, while others sustained broken windows and dents,” he said.
The Tshwane CBD came to a standstill when thousands of members of the church gathered outside the North Gauteng High Court yesterday morning.
They waited to hear the judgment of the court overturning an earlier decision that Tshepiso Modise should be the church’s leader. - Daily Sun
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