An American pastor who was kidnapped while delivering a sermon in a South African township last week has been rescued following a dramatic gunfight with his captors, according to police reports on Wednesday.

Josh Sullivan, 45, was abducted during an evening church service in Motherwell, a township in Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth) in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, last Thursday. The Fellowship Baptist Church confirmed the kidnapping.

The South African Police Service launched a swift rescue operation after receiving intelligence indicating that Sullivan was being held by his captors in a house located in the KwaMagxaki township. A team was dispatched to the location, where a “high-intensity shootout” ensued, leaving “three unidentified suspects” dead.

A police statement described the events leading up to the rescue: “As officers approached the house, they noticed a vehicle on the premises. Upon spotting the police, the suspects inside the vehicle allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team,” the statement read.

Tom Hatley, a mentor to Sullivan, also confirmed the pastor’s safe release. Hatley shared the news in a Facebook post, stating, “Josh has been released.” He included a photo of Sullivan with his family and requested privacy for the family. “Please respect The Sullivans' privacy during this time,” he added.

South Africa has seen a significant rise in kidnappings, with authorities reporting an average of 51 abductions per day. The nation also faces ongoing challenges with violent crime, including mass shootings and one of the highest murder rates globally.

Sullivan’s kidnapping follows the tragic death of renowned Islamic cleric Muhsin Hendricks, who was killed by armed assailants in Bethelsdorp, also in the Eastern Cape, just two months earlier.

Sullivan, a self-described "church planting missionary," arrived in South Africa in 2018 with plans to complete language studies and establish a church for the Xhosa-speaking population, as stated on his personal website.


WafricNews