KEY POINTS
- US missionary pastor Josh Sullivan was kidnapped at gunpoint during a church service in Gqeberha, with his abandoned vehicle later recovered in Motherwell.
- Authorities have confirmed a ransom demand and launched a multinational manhunt involving SAPS, the Hawks, and Interpol.
- The incident has sparked international concern, with fears that criminal syndicates may be targeting foreign religious workers in South Africa.
A kidnapping has sent shockwaves through South Africa and the international community after US missionary pastor Josh Sullivan was abducted at gunpoint during a church service in Gqeberha on Thursday night.
The assailants, armed and masked, stormed the service in Motherwell, forcing the pastor into his own vehicle before fleeing.
“According to the reports, the suspects allegedly forced the victim into his own vehicle and fled the scene with him to an unknown place,” said Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakhuvana.
According to IOL, the pastor’s Toyota Fortuner was later recovered abandoned in Motherwell, but there was no trace of Sullivan.
International outrage as ransom demand for Pastor surfaces
Authorities confirmed that a ransom demand has been made, though the exact amount remains undisclosed. A multidisciplinary task team involving SAPS, the Hawks, and Interpol has been activated to track down the kidnappers.
“A joint team is currently following all possible leads to locate the victim and apprehend the perpetrators,” Mhlakhuvana added. “All information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.”
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with the US Embassy in South Africa issuing a statement expressing “grave concern” and urging a swift resolution. Meanwhile, local churchgoers have organized prayer vigils, pleading for Sullivan’s safe return.
This kidnapping follows a worrying trend of violent crimes targeting religious figures in South Africa. Last year, a Zimbabwean preacher was similarly abducted in Johannesburg before being released after a ransom payment. Analysts suggest that criminal syndicates may be exploiting the visibility of foreign missionaries.
Police have urged anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that “no detail is too small.” Meanwhile, Sullivan’s family in Texas has appealed for privacy, stating only that they are “praying for a miracle.”
As the manhunt intensifies, questions linger over security measures at places of worship and whether more should be done to protect clergy—especially those from abroad.
