EMPD to deploy officers to churches being targeted by criminals over Easter

JOHANNESBURG - The City of Ekurhuleni says it will leave nothing to chance during the Easter break, vowing to deploy law enforcement to various churches considered crime hotspots during services.

The reassurance of increased safety at places of worship comes as the city launches its holiday safety campaign, which also includes roadblocks and additional boots on the ground during the period.

Acting chief of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), Julius Mkhwanazi, said this was part of taking proactive measures.

In 2024, the City of Ekurhuleni reported several robberies taking place at churches, with criminals taking phones and church equipment.

In one of the incidents at a church in Vosloorus in 2024, a 55-year-old woman was shot and killed while others sustained injuries.

Mkhwanazi said they had identified the churches where police would be deployed before and after the Easter holiday.

"We will be concentrating in our residential areas where we know there are big churches where we have learnt a lesson from last year, that criminals were targeting churches."

He promised the residents of the city that there would be no deaths in places of worship this year.

ALSO READ: 

• Spate of attacks on churches across SA leaving many congregants worshipping in fear 
• EC police rescue American pastor who was kidnapped in Gqeberha