eNCA | WATCH: eNgcobo church leader confirms three brothers killed in raid
ENGCOBO – While police continue searching for more suspects linked to the eNgcobo massacre in the Eastern Cape, the local church leader is coming to terms with the loss of three of his brothers.
Seven suspects were killed and ten others arrested after a shootout with police at the town’s church.
Here’s the room in which the gunfight between police and suspects took place at the Mancoba Church. Some died inside the room, others outside. #Ngcobo pic.twitter.com/9A0tQXc2w8
— Dasen Thathiah (@DasenThathiah) February 25, 2018
One of the founders of the Mancobo church says his brother is implicated in the killing of five police officers and a retired soldier at eNgcobo police station.
They were shot and killed on Wednesday.
Banele Mancoba admits his brother, Thandazile, was involved in a gang.
Banele Mancoba, of the Mancoba Church, apologises for his brother Thandazile’s role in the #NgcoboKillings. He was estranged from his family for years and had returned home recently. pic.twitter.com/7jRZkE49wo
— Dasen Thathiah (@DasenThathiah) February 25, 2018
Police say the church is now a crime scene and faces closure.
But Mancoba is adamant that God will not allow “his home to be demolished”.
“We will listen to God [to tell us] what we must do. God is in control of everything,” he said.
Complaint lodged but ignored
The South African Council of Churches says it lodged a complaint with government, over the Seven Angels Church, but was ignored.
The council’s Bishop Abednigo Zamindawo Qgira said: “We went to the magistrate’s office with the community. I was the one talking on behalf of the SA council of Churches and I said, we’d be pleased if this church can be closed. We said to government we are giving them at least seven days to respond, they didn’t come back to us and we have a feeling if they responded, this wouldn’t have happened.”
eNCA