It was through the grace of God that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) decided not to pursue murder charges against Pieter van der Westhuizen, who killed two church robbers, pastor Kobus Erasmus said on Wednesday.
Van der Westhuizen, an ex-policeman and also the brother of late Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen, pulled out his own firearm when robbers interrupted a church service at Erasmus Querencia Ministries in Centurion in July. Shots were fired, two suspected robbers were killed and a third ran off.
Van der Westhuizen’s legal representative Ulrich Roux said on Tuesday that the police confirmed during their investigation that his actions in all probability prevented any innocent churchgoers being hurt or killed by the robbers.
He said charges against his client were withdrawn and the docket had been closed by the police.
“We are glad that the system is also free and righteous, because he helped us that day,” the pastor told Sunday Times Daily. “We are happy, glad and thankful, and we think this was the grace of God that helped us through this.”
It was the Lord that helped Pieter van der Westhuizen also to defend us.
— Pastor Kobus Erasmus
Erasmus said it took a few months for the church to recover and some members were still nervous after the attempted robbery.
“We are taking this as a testimony of what the Lord has done, so it’s not the trauma but the testimony that stands out for everyone. We change it from trauma to testimony, and that helped the assembly to go through this thing without any fears. The assembly grew like nothing because of this also,” he said.
“I don’t think that Pieter has the ability himself to do what he did, I believe even in that — there is no doubt that even with all his skills, it was the Lord that helped him also to defend us.
“It’s unfortunate that there was a loss of life, but it was really between them and us.
“The people actually moved on, and it is now a big testimony for everyone.”
According to earlier police reports, three suspects stormed into the church during a service and robbed congregants at gunpoint. They pistol-whipped the pastor before forcibly taking valuables from members of the congregation. Erasmus sustained minor injuries and was treated on site.
The police recovered one firearm at the scene.
1. An unprovoked attack must take place.
2. The attack threatens imminent injury or death of any person.
3. An objectively reasonable degree of force is used in response to the attack.
4. The response comes from an objectively reasonable fear of injury or death.
– Ulrich Roux & Associates
— Four instances where self-defence is regarded as lawful justification for killing someone
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