Sophiatown church robbery suspects in court, linked to murder

THE Gauteng police have neither confirmed nor denied a possible link between the five suspects who were this week arrested for a senious church robbery in Sophiatown and their possible involvement in the 2023 murder of Pastor Wayne Gordon, who was killed in his home in Newlands near Westonaria in October 2023.

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE [e-mail]

This comes after one of the suspects on Monday was shot dead after law enforcement agents exchanged intense gunfire with alleged criminals in Westonaria, Gauteng.

On Wednesday, three of the five suspects appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court, where their matter was postponed to April 1 for the identifi cation of their details.

Gauteng provincial police spokes person, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, said two of the suspects were arrested following the shootout, with only three of their alleged accomplices before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

It was reported that the police’s crime intelligence received information about the suspects who were committing armed robberies and break-ins at places of worship around Gauteng.