Pastor Dwayne Gordon was tragically shot and killed in front of approximately 100 churchgoers at the Eagle Christian Centre in Newlands on Friday night.
This horrifying incident occurred during what appears to be a botched robbery, as a gang of six armed men invaded the peaceful church on Rorich Road.
Pastor Gordon had been invited to deliver a sermon as a guest speaker, and the entire community has been left in shock by this heinous act. The family of the 22-year-old victim, who worked in the real estate sector on the West Rand, is devastated by his untimely death.
The Gordon family, when approached by Eyewitness News at their Randfontein home on Monday, declined to comment on the matter but mentioned that they would release a statement in due course. The circumstances surrounding Pastor Gordon’s murder are chilling, as he was allegedly shot simply for making eye contact with one of the gunmen.
Local pastor Lwellyn Allison expressed the prevalent issues of crime and drugs in the Newlands area, stating that criminal activity and drug-related problems have plagued the community. The high levels of crime, disobedience among the youth, and the presence of gangs have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
Pastor Allison conveyed the deep sadness felt by the community, emphasizing that such a heinous act committed within the confines of a church is unprecedented and unacceptable. Pastor Dwayne Gordon’s funeral is expected to take place later this week, as the community grapples with the loss of a promising young life to a senseless act of violence.