Three suspects were arrested on 5 May in connection with a break-in at a local church earlier this month. The suspects have since been released due to the health risk posed by Covid-19 and are to appear in court on 10 June, according to Captain Russel of the Cloetesville SAPS.
The break-in at the Uniting Reformed Church South Africa (URCSA) in Ida’s Valley, Stellenbosch, happened some time between 2 May and 4 May.
Church officials were last at the building on the morning of 2 May and returned on 4 May, to find that the building had been broken into, said Sergeant Sedeman of the Cloetesville SAPS.
According to Sedeman, items to the value of R36 000 were stolen and have not been recovered. Stolen goods included audio equipment, microphone stands and a PC keyboard, among other things, she said.
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- An office in the church building was ransacked by the perpetrators and left in a chaotic state. PHOTO: Reverend Daniel Bock
Community work continues
URCSA reverend Daniel Bock said the church was overwhelmed by the support that the community showed towards the church, following the break-in.
“Ida’s Valley is not a very rich community, but what we did receive from Ida’s Valley was support [from people] encouraging us to continue doing what we’re doing,” said Bock.
A few days after the break-in, the church distributed food parcels to the communities of Ida’s Valley, Cloetesville and Jamestown. This was despite the set-back of the recent break-in.
The church cannot stop supporting the community, Bock said. “That is part of who we are. We just decided unanimously that we would continue,” he said.
According to a Facebook post by the church, food parcels were handed out to about 50 families by reverend Bock and pastor Godfrey Martin, on 9 May.
A total of 250 parcels have been given out, with more to follow, said Bock.
Reverend Daniel Bock (left) and pastor Godfrey Martin (right) were appreciative of local residents for supporting the food parcel initiative. PHOTO: Danica Bock
Meanwhile, URCSA churchgoers such as local businessman, Calvyn Heynes, were shocked that some of the accused were allegedly young people who grew up in Ida’s Valley.
“We as a church must rethink the youth ministry, Sunday school and the youngsters in our community,” said Heynes.
The aftermath of the break-in on the morning of 4 May. EMBEDDED POST: URCSA Ida’s Valley
– Kirthana Pillay