Church massacre leaves five dead as police negotiate with captors in Johannesburg

Five people have been killed and dozens arrested in an ongoing church massacre in Johannesburg. 

The bloodbath took place at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Zuurbekom, and a specialised police team and heavily-armed national defence force remain at the scene.  

It is believed the killings came amid a leadership battle at the church, as officers scrambled to the scene at 3am local time following reports that 200 people were taken hostage.  

Four people were discovered ‘shot and burned to death in a car’ and a security guard was shot dead in another car, a statement said.

Six other people were also injured in the attack. 

Forty people have been arrested and more than 25 firearms seized, police said.

Suspects were seen laying face down as police urged people to steer clear of the area 

Officers said more than 25 firearms have so far been seized

A series of photos were posted on Twitter as officers have arrested 30 suspects

It is not yet clear if those killed were among the assailants or hostages.

Horrifying images released by police show suspects laying face down on the ground with hands on their heads.  

Another image reveals guns stacked on the floor next to what look like boxes of ammunition. 

Authorities urged the public to steer clear of the area. 

Television station eNCA said there had been a leadership dispute at the church and cited a church official as saying roughly 200 people had been taken hostage. 

Police said they rescued men, women and children who had been held hostage and appeared to have been living at the church.  

The national police commissioner says the response by security forces ‘averted what could have been a more severe bloodbath.’

The statement says among those arrested are members of the police, defense forces and correctional services.

A post on Twitter revealed that hostage negotiators remain at the scene

A Twitter post revealed: ‘Early hours this morning #SAPS was alerted to a hostage situation & shooting @ International Pentcost Holiness Church, Zuurbekom, 30 suspects arrested & seized more than 25 firearms. 

‘5 fatalities are confirmed. The scene is still active with SAPS Hostage Negotiators. TM.’

The International Pentecost Holiness Church, which has a membership of three million, has become divided in its search for a successor to former leader Glayon Modise.  

He died in February 2016 without appointing a successor, The South African reported.

His songs Leonard and Tshepiso have both since been vying for control, with Leonard having previously occupied church buildings by force during the dispute. 

The clashes have led to several court battles over the years. 

It has not yet known been confirmed if today’s hostage situation relates to the ongoing row. 

In November 2018 two church factions confronted each other outside the church’s Silo headquarters, News24 reported.

Churchgoers at the time reported being narrowly hit by bullets. 

The church was founded in 1911 by Abner Blackmon Crumpler and Benjamin H Irwin following the merger of two older denominations. 

According to its website, the church has a faith that ‘God’s power is directly available to everyone to save, cleanse, empower, and heal’.