{"id":42300,"date":"2024-10-03T06:04:10","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T04:04:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T03:59:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T01:59:11","slug":"vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/","title":{"rendered":"Vandalism strikes House of Fire Church, Bishop calls for action"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A leader of House of Fire Church in Lwandle, Bishop Lusanda Tom, is heartbroken and demands the law take its course against the perpetrators who broke into the church and vandalised it on Friday 20 September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tom said the criminals gained access to the church through the back window. They removed all the lights in the church and vandalised the ceiling, the wall and the washing machine in another room on the church premises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a sign of disrespect for the house of God,\u201d the bishop declared. \u201cIt hurts to see our church like this. They gained access through the back window. After that, they removed all the lights and vandalised them, and left the ceiling broken.\u201d He added no-one slept in the church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said he had received a call from his wife while he was at work informing him of the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"

<\/p>\n

Leader of the House of Fire Bishop Lusanda Tom assessing the damage in the church.<\/div>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The soft-spoken churchman, who is also a teacher at Lwandle High School, said he had to wait for the schoolday\u2019s end before heading out to the church to assess the damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

READ MORE | Lwandle Community Hall hosts prayer event to combat rising crime<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I arrived some of the congregants and community members were on the scene doing just that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that after seeing the damage he went around the community searching for all the criminals he knew and brought them to the church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say much to them. I showed them the damage and told them to go and find the culprits. I believe they know who broke into the church.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tom added he believed more than one person was involved in the break-in. He stated it was not the first time this year that his church was burgled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tom said the church had also been burgled in August, when the culprits tried to steal a small table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\u201cIt hurts to see our church like this. They gained access through the back window. After that, they removed all the lights and vandalised them, and left the ceiling broken.\u201d<\/div>\n
Bishop Lusanda Tom<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey took the table, but it seems it fell and broke while they were trying to jump the gate because we found it right outside the yard.\u201d He said the criminals had also gained access through a back window. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tom said what hurts him the most is that the church has really helped the community. For instance, during the Covid-19 pandemic it gave away many food parcels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCurrently, we are busy with school programmes. We have weekend classes for different subjects. There are three teachers from the church and five student teachers from the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch assisting us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe learners are from Grade 5 to 12, from various schools in the area. And soon we are going to have Spring classes for all the learners from different schools.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

READ MORE | Community leaders are fed up with the WCED about new Lwandle school<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Tom all the church services were continuing despite not knowing how the damage would be fixed. He said he estimated cost was approximately R15 000, and appealed to local organisations to support the church with whatever they had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lwandle police spokesperson Sgt Mthokozisi Gama confirmed the incident, saying a case of business robbery had been opened. He said it is alleged the suspects broke the window to gain access to the church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo arrest has been made yet. The detectives request anyone with information on the incident to contact Lwandle police detective Sgt Ntombizandile Mdungwana on 021 845 2060.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A leader of House of Fire Church in Lwandle, Bishop Lusanda Tom, is heartbroken and demands the law take its course against the perpetrators who broke into the church and vandalised it on Friday 20 September.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":42305,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"7d147a62-1387-41f8-8787-8e4804fee8eb","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"Unathi Obose","background_color":"","block_editor":"","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-42300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nVandalism strikes House of Fire Church, Bishop calls for action | City Vision<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Vandalism strikes House of Fire Church, Bishop calls for action\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A leader of House of Fire Church in Lwandle, Bishop Lusanda Tom, is heartbroken and demands the law take its course against the perpetrators who broke into the church and vandalised it on Friday 20 September.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"City Vision\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CityVisionOnline\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-03T04:04:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-20T01:59:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/025c240ef9d94528bfcdc64efb53d93c.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1620\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Unathi Obose\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@cityvisionlive\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@cityvisionlive\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"City Vision\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"City Vision\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/11864c3a6fbb8f94f0d6575e9e089458\"},\"headline\":\"Vandalism strikes House of Fire Church, Bishop calls for action\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-03T04:04:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-20T01:59:11+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":608,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/025c240ef9d94528bfcdc64efb53d93c.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2024\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/\",\"name\":\"Vandalism strikes House of Fire Church, Bishop calls for action | City Vision\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/025c240ef9d94528bfcdc64efb53d93c.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-03T04:04:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-20T01:59:11+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/025c240ef9d94528bfcdc64efb53d93c.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/025c240ef9d94528bfcdc64efb53d93c.jpg\",\"width\":1620,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"Bishop Lusanda Tom carrying some of the lights that had been removed from the roof.PHOTOS: unathi obose\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Vandalism strikes House of Fire Church, Bishop calls for action\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/\",\"name\":\"City Vision\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"City Vision\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/city-vision-site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/city-vision-site-icon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"City Vision\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/CityVisionOnline\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/cityvisionlive\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@cityvisionnews\"],\"description\":\"City Vision is a free weekly community newspaper distributed every Thursday in the townships of the Cape Peninsula, including areas such as Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, and Nyanga. Published in both English and isiXhosa, it serves as a vital source of local news and information for these communities.\",\"email\":\"cityvision@novusmedia.co.za\",\"telephone\":\"021 910 6500\",\"legalName\":\"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd\",\"foundingDate\":\"2025-01-01\",\"vatID\":\"4100318916\",\"taxID\":\"2000\\\/018234\\\/07\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/11864c3a6fbb8f94f0d6575e9e089458\",\"name\":\"City Vision\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f09f7afc10d37f19acc41019602b8004f6a1c574a3093b9a58b87c207ec94180?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f09f7afc10d37f19acc41019602b8004f6a1c574a3093b9a58b87c207ec94180?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f09f7afc10d37f19acc41019602b8004f6a1c574a3093b9a58b87c207ec94180?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"City Vision\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/cityvision\\\/author\\\/cityvision\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Vandalism strikes House of Fire Church, Bishop calls for action | City Vision","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Vandalism strikes House of Fire Church, Bishop calls for action","og_description":"A leader of House of Fire Church in Lwandle, Bishop Lusanda Tom, is heartbroken and demands the law take its course against the perpetrators who broke into the church and vandalised it on Friday 20 September.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/","og_site_name":"City Vision","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CityVisionOnline\/","article_published_time":"2024-10-03T04:04:10+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-20T01:59:11+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1620,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/025c240ef9d94528bfcdc64efb53d93c.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Unathi Obose","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@cityvisionlive","twitter_site":"@cityvisionlive","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"City Vision","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/"},"author":{"name":"City Vision","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/#\/schema\/person\/11864c3a6fbb8f94f0d6575e9e089458"},"headline":"Vandalism strikes House of Fire Church, Bishop calls for action","datePublished":"2024-10-03T04:04:10+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-20T01:59:11+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/"},"wordCount":608,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/025c240ef9d94528bfcdc64efb53d93c.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2024","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/","name":"Vandalism strikes House of Fire Church, Bishop calls for action | City Vision","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/025c240ef9d94528bfcdc64efb53d93c.jpg","datePublished":"2024-10-03T04:04:10+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-20T01:59:11+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/025c240ef9d94528bfcdc64efb53d93c.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/025c240ef9d94528bfcdc64efb53d93c.jpg","width":1620,"height":1080,"caption":"Bishop Lusanda Tom carrying some of the lights that had been removed from the roof.PHOTOS: unathi obose"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/vandalism-strikes-house-of-fire-church-bishop-calls-for-action-20241003\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Vandalism strikes House of Fire Church, Bishop calls for action"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/","name":"City Vision","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/#organization","name":"City Vision","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/city-vision-site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/city-vision-site-icon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"City Vision"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CityVisionOnline\/","https:\/\/x.com\/cityvisionlive","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@cityvisionnews"],"description":"City Vision is a free weekly community newspaper distributed every Thursday in the townships of the Cape Peninsula, including areas such as Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, and Nyanga. Published in both English and isiXhosa, it serves as a vital source of local news and information for these communities.","email":"cityvision@novusmedia.co.za","telephone":"021 910 6500","legalName":"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd","foundingDate":"2025-01-01","vatID":"4100318916","taxID":"2000\/018234\/07","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/#\/schema\/person\/11864c3a6fbb8f94f0d6575e9e089458","name":"City Vision","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f09f7afc10d37f19acc41019602b8004f6a1c574a3093b9a58b87c207ec94180?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f09f7afc10d37f19acc41019602b8004f6a1c574a3093b9a58b87c207ec94180?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f09f7afc10d37f19acc41019602b8004f6a1c574a3093b9a58b87c207ec94180?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"City Vision"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/author\/cityvision\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/025c240ef9d94528bfcdc64efb53d93c.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":43497,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/cars-vandalised-outside-church-20231101\/","url_meta":{"origin":42300,"position":0},"title":"An ungodly encounter: Cars, property vandalised outside Gugulethu church during Sunday service","author":"City Vision","date":"2 November 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"A decidedly ungodly trend seems to be befalling people performing Sunday observances when they emerge at the end of it to find premises and vehicles damaged and\/or broken into.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f86c14b8b9264a1982e203beaff4a9ce.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f86c14b8b9264a1982e203beaff4a9ce.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f86c14b8b9264a1982e203beaff4a9ce.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f86c14b8b9264a1982e203beaff4a9ce.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46228,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/historic-gugulethu-church-appeals-for-assistance-to-fix-leaking-roof-20250306\/","url_meta":{"origin":42300,"position":1},"title":"Historic Gugulethu Church appeals for assistance to fix leaking roof","author":"City Vision","date":"6 March 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Leader of St Mary Magdalene Church in Gugulethu is appealing to any Samaritan who can assist the congregation in renovating its building to come forward.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8ee7bc11f61545948396e13c8e1fbaa5.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8ee7bc11f61545948396e13c8e1fbaa5.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8ee7bc11f61545948396e13c8e1fbaa5.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8ee7bc11f61545948396e13c8e1fbaa5.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42931,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/church-leaders-pray-for-the-election-20240501\/","url_meta":{"origin":42300,"position":2},"title":"Church leaders pray for the election","author":"City Vision","date":"8 May 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Church leaders from various congregations in Strand held a special service to pray for peace during the upcoming elections on Wednesday 29 May.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/d9ba19054aee4dcdb17e05ab60f7fdf7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/d9ba19054aee4dcdb17e05ab60f7fdf7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/d9ba19054aee4dcdb17e05ab60f7fdf7.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/d9ba19054aee4dcdb17e05ab60f7fdf7.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/d9ba19054aee4dcdb17e05ab60f7fdf7.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/d9ba19054aee4dcdb17e05ab60f7fdf7.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44201,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/koinonia-christian-council-seeks-intervention-20230323\/","url_meta":{"origin":42300,"position":3},"title":"Koinonia Christian Council seeks intervention","author":"City Vision","date":"23 March 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"With Easter holiday festivities fast approaching, members of the Koinonia Christian Council held a pre-Easter service at the United Presbyterian Church of South Africa in Makhaza, on Sunday 19 March, to pray for safety.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/e4c2728607d24386bd4a5212f047c015.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/e4c2728607d24386bd4a5212f047c015.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/e4c2728607d24386bd4a5212f047c015.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/e4c2728607d24386bd4a5212f047c015.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44615,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/church-in-nomzamo-gives-back-as-a-offering-to-mitigate-the-suffering-20221201\/","url_meta":{"origin":42300,"position":4},"title":"Church in Nomzamo gives back as a offering to mitigate the suffering","author":"City Vision","date":"1 December 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"While life has returned to normal for South Africans, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are still visible and being felt by many.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2a978e62519047e9abf4edcfae39a62d.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2a978e62519047e9abf4edcfae39a62d.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2a978e62519047e9abf4edcfae39a62d.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2a978e62519047e9abf4edcfae39a62d.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2a978e62519047e9abf4edcfae39a62d.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2a978e62519047e9abf4edcfae39a62d.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42144,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/local-church-steps-up-to-support-families-displaced-by-taiwan-informal-settlement-fire-20241107\/","url_meta":{"origin":42300,"position":5},"title":"Local church steps up to support families displaced by Taiwan informal settlement fire","author":"City Vision","date":"7 November 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The pain of losing their belongings was partially salved when congregants from the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and Andrew Losaba Society donated clothes and toiletries to Taiwan informal settlement victims of an inferno that raged through the","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8a0fe7b35aa24f2993d4c86ea3b3d9b4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8a0fe7b35aa24f2993d4c86ea3b3d9b4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8a0fe7b35aa24f2993d4c86ea3b3d9b4.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8a0fe7b35aa24f2993d4c86ea3b3d9b4.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8a0fe7b35aa24f2993d4c86ea3b3d9b4.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8a0fe7b35aa24f2993d4c86ea3b3d9b4.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"City Vision","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42300"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42300\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42300"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=42300"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/cityvision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=42300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}