MBABANE – A pastor from the Old Apostolic Church was shot twice and robbed while on his way to church.
Information gathered was to the effect that Pastor Bongani Phakathi was on his way to conduct church activities at Hawane when he was shot and robbed before reaching his destination.
The man of God, originally from Mantjolo, reportedly encountered a man whose head was covered with a hood next to the school at Hwane. After walking a few metres, it is said that the stranger brandished a gun and followed the unsuspecting pastor from behind.
It has been gathered that the assailant placed the barrel of the gun against the left side of Phakathi’s stomach and pulled the trigger, ordering him to surrender all his possessions. In an interview from his hospital bed, Phakathi stated that the stranger had shown admiration for his clothing, noting that he was dressed in a pair of jeans, white Nike sneakers, a Nike jacket and carrying a Nike orange bag.
He explained that the gunman then placed the barrel of the gun on his thigh before pulling the trigger. The man of God said although he felt something wet after the gunshot, he was initially unaware that he had been shot, as the barrel was aimed at the left side of his stomach. He said he only realised he had been shot when he felt numbness in his legs.
Phakathi said the assailant then ordered him to lie face down and searched his pockets. During the robbery, the man of God said the stranger took the sneakers, jacket and bag. The gunman reportedly said: “I have wasted my bullet,” upon realising that the victim had no money. After the attack, the assailant reportedly abandoned Phakathi on the road. The pastor was forced to walk to a nearby homestead, where he was assisted in making a phone call to his wife.
He mentioned that his wife was supposed to bring him a church suit, but she could not because of the afternoon rain, which resulted in the muddy road.
As a result, he was dressed in casual clothing. The head of the family, Sibusiso Mkhonto, helped organise transport, but efforts failed due to the condition of the road, which had become muddy after the afternoon rain.
He said the community’s good Samaritans used a wheelbarrow to transport him to a car parked nearby on the muddy, slippery road. Upon arrival at the vehicle, he said the driver informed them that it had mechanical faults. He said as a result, Mkhonto engaged a soldier to assist with his vehicle.
“The soldier took me to the Light House, where we met an ambulance that transported me to Mbabane Government Hospital.”
Phakathi expressed the belief that the incident was intentional, based on the way it occurred.
He doubted that the assailant’s primary aim was robbery. He stated that doctors confirmed that the bullets had exited his body; however, he reported feeling a sharp pain in his right rib, where the bullet had come out.
Pastor Bongani Phakathi of the Old Apostolic Church was shot twice and robbed of his clothes while on his way to conduct church activities at Hawane. (Pic: Sibusiso Shange)