Pastor assaulted by police,
other pastors after church
21 March 2012 | Nyambeni Mandiwana
POLOKWANE - A Living Word Church
pastor, Desmond Nong is recovering at his Matlala home after he was
assaulted by two pastors and a policeman last Tuesday.
The assault happened a few minutes after the congregation left the church.
According to Nong the pastors and a third stranger accused him of stealing their church’s sound system speaker.
“When I asked them to give me a chance to show them the receipts for our church’s sound system, they assaulted me. The stranger introduced himself as a police officer from the Matlala SAPF and pointed a gun at me while one of the pastors handcuffed me. I was then forced into the back of an unmarked van.
"Some residents witnessed the incident and surrounded the van but the pastors drove away in one of the pastors’ car. The police officer ran away on foot. I was taken to the Knobel Hospital for treatment.”
Nong said when he tried to open a case of assault at the Matlala SAPF, he was charged and arrested for housebreaking and theft as one of the pastors had opened a case against him on March 2.
"They also arrested my grandmother and charged her with malicious damage to property. The police didn’t arrest the pastors and officer even though I opened a case against them,” he said.
Nong appeared in the Matlala magistrate’s court and faced a charge of theft.
He was released on R1 000 bail.
Lt Mohale Ramatseba said the Matlala SAPF will be investigated for not arresting the pastors and police officer who assaulted Nong.
