Man murdered inside church

A man was reportedly murdered right inside a church, right in front of the pastor.

The deceased identified as Bongani Mfengu, was killed at the Thabo Mbeki squatter camp in Philippi East, near Cape Town, South Africa.

The crime scene

According to Daily Sun SA, the deceased's family are still unsure of the reason why their son was murdered in that way.

Confirming the story, the pastor Sakhiwe Maseti of St John’s Apostolic Church, said his attacker had been chasing him with a hammer and knife, just before he ran into his church. He said :

“I heard a man calling for help while running towards my church, maybe he knew he was dying so he chose a church of all places because he wanted to die close to God the creator.Bongani first fell in the churchyard after the suspect attacked him. He then stood up and ran into the church. Before I could intervene, the attacker hit Bongani with a hammer and stabbed him. He died on the spot.”

One of the deceased's family members identified as Ntombifikile Magiyose, said the suspect must have had plans to kill him, because he had earlier invited him for a drink.

Another relative, Nolmaindiya Mfengu, said the deceased was a known hard worker who had just started another business.

Speaking to the Daily Sun correspondents, the police spokesman, Captain Frederick Van Wyk, said:

“The victim was allegedly stabbed to death by his friend after an argument. A 26-year-old suspect was arrested later that night.”

The suspect is expected to appear in the Athlone Magistrate's Court later.