The murder of a pastor, Dwayne Gordon, during a church service at Eagle Christian Centre in Newlands, Johannesburg, after armed robbers ambushed congregants on Friday has left many South Africans asking themselves: “Is there any place where we are safe?”
The trio had stormed into the church service, holding congregants at gunpoint. Stock photo. Image: 123RF/Goran Bogicevic
A police investigation has determined that Pieter van der Westhuizen acted in self-defence when he shot dead two armed robbers who targeted churchgoers at the Querencia Ministries Church in Centurion last year.
Van der Westhuizen s legal representative Ulrich Roux said on Tuesday that the police confirmed during their investigation that his actions in all probability resulted in the prevention of any innocent churchgoers being hurt or killed by the robbers.
Van der Westhuizen, an ex-policeman, allegedly produced his own firearm and shots were fired, fatally wounding two suspects who had attempted to rob congregants while the church service was under way in July 2020. A third suspect ran off.