Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbite by Leanne De Jager MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is deeply shocked and saddened by the senseless desecration of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Braamfontein on Thursday, 14 May 2026.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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. This will ensure that spaces of worship and sites of historical significance are preserved and protected for future generations.