Eastern Cape police have begun the process of demolition the controversial Mancoba Seven Angel Ministries Church in Ngcobo.
In a statement on Monday night, Eastern Cape police said that the "demolition of the
church as the centre of crime" had begun with the removing inscriptions on the mountains".
Provincial police spokesperson, Captain Khaya Tonjeni, said that a "team led by senior SAPS members in the province have already started with removing inscriptions on the side of the mountains behind the Mancoba church."
He said community members have welcomed this move and have come to show their support as they have consistently done ever since the attack happened.
"A legal route is also being sought to give guidance and legal counsel on the best possible method of the physical removal of the church buildings from where it is located," Tonjeni said.
He said this was one of several processes undertaken following the deadly attack on the Ngcobo police station and the subsequent shoot-out at Mancoba Seven Angels Ministry which left seven people dead and one policeman injured.
Tonjeni also said that the repatriation of Mancoba church members "who have not been positively linked to criminal activities associated with the church were taken back to their families and some of them reunited with their relatives."
He said the Hawks is handling the matter working closely with the Department of Social Development.
Tonjeni also said that normalising and improving safety and public access to Engcobo police station is also underway.
"All the old broken signs have been removed and replaced with new signage and the broken windows have been fixed. Additional personnel have been deployed to render quality services to Engcobo community," he said.
