Johannesburg – Heavy marble statues of the archangels and the altar at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Braamfontein have been vandalised.
It has emerged that the statues were yanked from their plinths and smashed to the ground on Thursday, 14 May 2026.
Commenting on the vandalism, Leanne De Jager, a Democratic Alliance (DA) MPL in Gauteng, said on Monday, 18 May 2026, that her party was “deeply shocked and saddened by the senseless desecration of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Braamfontein”.
De Jager added: “It is alleged that a young man stormed the altar of this historic heritage church and violently pulled heavy marble statues of the archangels from their plinths, destroying the statues and damaging the altar while shouting religious profanities at congregants”.
The MPL said the Holy Trinity Church has served as a beacon of faith, service, and community in the heart of Johannesburg since the Braamfontein Mission was established by Trappist monks in 1897, with the current church building completed in 1938.
“This is not merely an attack on a place of worship, but an attack on a shared heritage and sacred history that belongs to all South Africans,” said De Jager, the DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
“The destruction of the archangel statues represents an irreplaceable loss of religious, cultural, and historical heritage that cannot simply be rebuilt or replaced.
“The DA calls on law enforcement agencies to urgently apprehend the suspect and ensure that the full might of the law is applied.’
De Jager said acts of religious desecration and cultural vandalism cannot be tolerated in a constitutional democracy founded on dignity, tolerance, and respect for diversity.
“We further call on civil society, faith communities, and heritage organisations to stand united in condemning all acts of religious intolerance and attacks on cultural heritage,” she said.
With an eye on the upcoming local government elections scheduled for 4 November 2026, De Jager further stated that the DA remains the only party committed to safeguarding South Africa’s religious, cultural, and historical institutions.
“We will prioritise the protection of heritage sites, strengthen public safety, and uphold the rule of law,” De Jager said.
“This will ensure that spaces of worship and sites of historical significance are preserved and protected for future generations.”
