12 gunmen steal undisclosed amount of cash from a Methodist church in South Africa

Armed Robbery at Bryanston Methodist Church: A Growing Threat to Religious Institutions in South Africa

On the night of Monday, October 27, 2025, the Bryanston Methodist Church in South Africa became the latest target in a disturbing wave of armed robberies affecting religious institutions across the country.

At approximately 10 p.m., twelve gunmen arrived at the church premises in three vehicles and launched a coordinated attack that lasted over three hours. 

The assailants held security guards at gunpoint, forcibly entered the lower office block, and disabled the alarm system before breaking into the church’s vault and strongroom area using heavy-duty tools such as angle grinders and jackhammers.

According to a statement issued by the church leadership to its congregation, several safes were damaged during the break-in, and an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen, including one entire physical safe.

Despite the severity of the incident, church officials confirmed that no one was physically harmed. They expressed gratitude for what they described as “God’s protection” over the staff and security personnel present during the ordeal. In response to the traumatic event, the church has begun offering counseling and emotional support to those affected.

The Bryanston robbery is not an isolated case but part of a troubling trend of attacks on churches in South Africa. In July, nine members of a church in Mpumalanga, including a pastor and elders, were held at gunpoint during an evening meeting.

The attackers tied the victims with cable ties and stole their phones, wallets, laptops, and car keys. Just a month later, Mpumalanga’s MEC for Community Safety, Jackie Macie, urged churches to bolster their security measures after three separate armed attacks on worshippers occurred within a single week.

More recently, in September, two armed men disrupted a prayer service at Zayoni Kingdom Catholic Church in Waterloo, north of Durban.

Witnesses reported that the suspects, dressed entirely in black, held up approximately 60 congregants and collected 46 mobile phones at gunpoint before fleeing the scene.

In light of these incidents, authorities have launched a full investigation into the Bryanston attack and are urging religious institutions to remain vigilant. Church leaders at Bryanston have also advised their members to adopt electronic forms of giving, such as EFT, SnapScan, or card payments—to reduce the need for storing cash on-site.

Despite the trauma, the church has affirmed that its ministries and services will continue as scheduled, underscoring its resilience in the face of adversity.

This string of violent episodes highlights a growing concern for the safety of worshippers and the sanctity of religious spaces in South Africa.

As investigations continue, communities are left grappling with the implications of these attacks and the urgent need for enhanced security and preventive measures.