Horror in Emalahleni: Pastor Accused of Severing Man’s Hands Over Theft Allegation
Horror in Emalahleni: Pastor Accused of Severing Man’s Hands Over Theft Allegations

In a shocking act of vigilante justice, a 29-year-old man, Dumisani Mahlangu, was brutally attacked in Kwa-Guqa, Emalahleni, allegedly by a local pastor and his son. Mahlangu, accused of stealing from the pastor’s church, had both his hands severed with a panga. The horrific incident, reported by Sowetan LIVE, has led to the arrest of the pastor and his son, who now face charges of attempted murder and kidnapping.
Mahlangu, who was recently discharged from the hospital, admitted to a troubled history of theft but denied stealing from the church. “I begged him to at least leave me with one hand,” Mahlangu recalled, “but he said my friends must see what happens to people who steal from him.”
The Brutal Attack
The incident occurred on March 20, when Mahlangu was passing through the churchyard in Kwa-Guqa. He claimed he was ambushed by four armed men who accused him of theft. As he tried to escape, gunshots rang out, forcing him to stop.
Mahlangu stated that the pastor’s son called his father to the scene. Shortly afterward, the pastor arrived in a van, accompanied by his wife in another vehicle. Mahlangu was tied up, beaten, and driven to a secluded area in Kromdraai. There, the pastor allegedly severed both his hands with a panga, while others restrained him.
“They tied me up, placed my hand on a tree branch, and the pastor chopped it off,” Mahlangu said. “I didn’t know what they were planning until it was too late.”
A Desperate Cry for Help
Left severely injured, Mahlangu managed to stumble to a nearby road in search of help. He begged his attackers to call an ambulance, but they refused. “One of them said, ‘A man dies in battle,’” Mahlangu recounted. Eventually, local woodcutters discovered him and contacted security officers from a nearby mine. He was then transported to a clinic in Kwa-Guqa for emergency medical care.
A History of Trouble and Denial of Theft
Mahlangu admitted to a history of drug use and theft but insisted he had never stolen from the church. “Yes, I have stolen before, but not from the church,” he said. Local authorities acknowledged that drug addiction often led to theft in the area, but many in the community believe the pastor’s actions were extreme and unjustifiable.
Legal and Community Reactions
The pastor, identified as Apostle Solomon Mhlanga, 58, and his 20-year-old son Enoch, appeared in the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court, where they were charged with attempted murder and kidnapping. The incident has sparked outrage, with community members condemning the act as an unlawful and immoral example of vigilante justice.
As the case proceeds, Mahlangu’s ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of taking the law into one’s own hands. The community now waits for the court’s decision, hoping for justice to prevail.