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“They made certain that the church was locked, that there were no footprints, and then took photographs. They then apologised to us and left.”
Esterhuizen claims the officers broke a large pot plant worth R1 000 when they scaled the wall. “But that’s not the issue for me. It’s about showing respect for the church. It’s as though they wanted to catch us in the act [of something unlawful] – you don’t just expose a church like that.”
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According to Esterhuizen, the ordeal lasted around 10 minutes.
National police spokesperson Colonel Vishnu Naidoo told News24 sector members from Wierdabrug received a telephonic complaint that there was an illegal gathering at the church and were requested to intervene.
“Gates at the church were locked. Members hooted and switched on the vehicle’s sirens, but no one came to open the gate for them nor to talk to them. They then jumped the fence to check what was happening and spoke to the pastor.”
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In terms of the broken pot plant, Naidoo said senior officers from the station would visit the church to follow up the allegations.
“The pastor also has a right to open a case at the police station and it will be investigated properly.”
