Hours After Worshippers Gave Generously, Thieves Struck Bryanston Methodist Church
Just a day after congregants gathered in thanksgiving and pledged thousands of rands during a special service, Bryanston Methodist Church in Sandton became the scene of a daring late-night robbery — one that lasted three hours and left the congregation shaken and searching for answers.
The Sunday service, themed “The divine message must be spread,” was a celebration of gratitude known as Rhona service Malihambe! Worshippers, including well-known politicians and celebrities, filled the church with music, joy, and generosity. Many pledged substantial offerings — some groups even surpassing their financial targets.
According to insiders, the atmosphere on Sunday was festive and heartfelt. “Some groupings had surpassed their targets, with one group reporting to have gone from R25,000 to R30,350,” said one congregant. For many, Rhona services are a form of thanksgiving — and sometimes even a friendly competition among the church’s various clusters to see who can raise the most funds.
But less than 24 hours later, that spirit of celebration was replaced by disbelief.
Three-Hour Heist in the Night
On Monday night, around 10pm, a group of twelve armed men stormed the Bryanston Methodist Church premises. Arriving in three vehicles, the suspects held the security guards at gunpoint before disabling the alarm system and making their way to the lower office block.
In a letter sent to congregants, the church detailed how the men “gained access to one of the offices in the lower office block and took a few items. They then disabled the alarm system and proceeded to break into the vault/strongroom area using heavy tools [angle grinders and jackhammers]. Several safes were damaged, and an undisclosed amount of money was taken, including one physical safe.”
The robbers reportedly worked for nearly three hours undetected, chiselling through the structure to reach the vault. Despite the area’s heavy private security presence and CCTV cameras on surrounding streets, no one noticed the break-in in progress. Security guards stationed at nearby homes and the adjacent shopping centre later told reporters they had seen nothing unusual that night.
No Injuries, But Many Questions
The Bryanston Methodist Church, which has more than 5,000 members, confirmed that no one was physically harmed during the robbery. “We are deeply grateful for God’s protection over our security personnel and staff members who were on the property at the time,” the letter to members read.
An official close to the church described the robbery as “well-planned”, suggesting that the robbers might have known when large sums of cash would be on the premises. “The money stolen was not worth the work they [robbers] put in,” the source added, hinting that the crime may have been more about inside knowledge than the actual amount taken.
Church officials, including those responsible for property and maintenance, declined to comment publicly. “The matter is in the hands of the police,” one leader said, while others referred inquiries to the church spokesperson — whose phone remained off.
Inside Information Suspected
Some members believe that transparency within the church, once celebrated, may have made it vulnerable. “I found out today that we have a vault,” one long-time congregant revealed “Another interesting thing that makes us vulnerable is that every quarter we have a CFO who comes on a big projector for transparency and shows us how the books of the church are looking. They’d say how much was in the reserves and how much we have received in tithe, and how much has been put for the mission work. You don’t know that criminals are sitting there.”
According to church insiders, every Rhona service involves clusters or groups with different financial goals — and the excitement of the event, coupled with open discussions about church funds, may have drawn unwanted attention.
Police Investigate
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that a case of house robbery has been opened.
“Police in Durban Central have opened a case of house robbery following an incident in which a couple was allegedly robbed of their belongings at their residence on Douglas Grove in Ballito on Tuesday, October 21, 2025,” said Netshiunda in a statement to Sunday World.
“Reports indicate that the couple was at their home when at least eight people came to their house and reportedly posed as police officers. The suspects allegedly stole an undisclosed amount of money.”
While the police work to trace the culprits, the church has taken steps to strengthen security and support its community. Counselling and emotional assistance have been offered to staff and guards who were on site during the incident.
Church Responds
Despite the distress, the Bryanston Methodist Church assured members that all services and ministries would continue as normal. In its message to congregants, the leadership encouraged members to avoid cash donations and instead use electronic platforms for giving.
“We do, however, encourage members to continue making use of EFT, SnapScan, or card payments for their giving, to help us minimise the need for holding cash on site,” the letter read.
For many worshippers, the robbery has been a sobering reminder of vulnerability — even in sacred spaces. Just hours after celebrating generosity and faith, they were confronted with greed and violence. Yet amid the loss, the church community remains determined to move forward, united in prayer and purpose
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