Nyanga CPF urges churches to get involved in fight against crime in their communities

CAPE TOWN - The Nyanga community policing forum (CPF) is calling on churches to break the silence and get involved in crime-fighting initiatives in their communities.

This comes after a reverend of a St John's Church and his wife were shot and killed in Mena Street at Lusaka in Nyanga on Tuesday evening.

The forum said that it was not the first time that the church had experienced a criminal attack.

Last year, the church building was set alight by unknown suspects.

According to the community policing forum's secretary, Dumisani Qwebe, the motive for the double murder is unknown at this stage.

"In this case, there's no extortion-related incident, because when I visited the family on Tuesday, it was clear that those two unknown young men, on their entrance, they asked for help as St John's is always helping."

Qwebe said that when the reverend and his wife refused to open their door, the pair forced their way into the house, and shot the 77-year-old and his 70-year-old wife.

The couple died in hospital.

Western Cape police have confirmed that no arrests have been made and appealed for help from the public in finding those responsible.