Louise Flanagan, Botho Molosankwe, Zodidi Dano and Sapa-AP
Johannesburg - A relative of the South African family killed in Kabul believe the Taliban targeted them because they thought they were missionaries converting Muslims to Christianity.
Werner Groenewald, 46, his son, Jean-Pierre, 17, and daughter, Rodé, 15, were killed in Saturday’s attack at their Kabul home on the compound of Partnership in Academics and Development. Werner’s wife, Hannelie, a doctor, was working at a hospital when the attack began.
Riana du Plessis, Hannelie’s sister, who lives in Pretoria, said: “It was their life mission, to train the Afghans, to support them, to help them.”
Du Plessis said the compound was where the family lived and where Werner Groenewald, a former Pretoria pastor, worked.
She said the attack had apparently been carried out by three people dressed as policemen, including a suicide bomber.
There were several explosions and many gunshots, she said.
Afghan elite commandos battled the three militants and they were eventually killed.
Du Plessis said: “The Taliban thought that they [the South Africans} were trying to convert Muslims to be Christians. They targeted my brother-in-law, Werner.” .
He and his children had been taken aside and shot and they bled to death, she said.
Two Afghans had also been killed. The building was then burnt down.
“Everything burnt down. Hannelie went to the house today and there’s nothing,” said Du Plessis.
“She’s still in Kabul and we are trying to get her out of the country as well as repatriate the bodies.”
Du Plessis said the family had moved to Kabul in August 2002 and the children had regarded it as their home.
The family expects to hold the funerals at the Dutch Reformed Church in Moreleta Park in Pretoria, where Groenewald had been a full-time pastor.
Dominee Willem Badenhorst said the family had been in Kabul to serve the community.
“Their passion was to have a positive influence, a transforming influence in the community,” he said.
“We are deeply hurt and I could see the tears this morning when I announced it to the congregation.”
He described Groenewald as an energetic, soft-hearted, practical man who was devoted to his family. “He stood for his principles.”
Groenewald’s previous work included being in the SA Navy from 1992 to 1996, and at the then-Department of Foreign Affairs.
He was a director at Partnership in Academics and Development, an educational organisation based in California. The organisation confirmed the attack on its website and said several staff had been injured.
“We are caring for all staff and their families as they grieve the loss of their friends and co-workers and nurse the wounded. We honour their commitment to the people of Afghanistan,” it said.
In an online posting, Achmed Kariem, who said he was a friend of the Groenewalds, said the attack had started at about 4pm local time on Saturday when a grenade was thrown into the compound and the building was stormed.
“The men were carrying machine guns, grenades and wearing suicide vests. A Taliban spokesman said it was targeting ‘a secret Christian missionary and foreign invaders’ intelligence centre’,” wrote Kariem. He said one Afghan worker had also died and six hostages had been rescued.
“We honour these three heroes of faith who have given their lives for those who hated them,” he said.
Both Werner and Hannelie Groenewald had posted a symbol on their Facebook pages that they said was an Arabic symbol used by Islamic State in Iraq to mark the homes of Christians, to kill them; they said the sign was used by Christians in solidarity with those targeted.
A Taliban spokesman claimed on Twitter that the compound was that of a secret Christian missionary group. Family and friends described the group as strict Christians, but not missionaries.
Kabul police chief General Zahir Zahir stepped down on Sunday shortly after he confirmed that three South Africans and an Afghan citizen were killed in the attack.
“The attackers first shot dead the director as they entered the building,” Zahir said.
Nato troop numbers in Afghanistan peaked at 130 000 in 2010 but have fallen rapidly since then. Their combat mission ends altogether on December 31.
Fears are growing that the declining international presence is already fuelling the Islamist insurgency.
The mission will be replaced by a12 500-strong force supporting the Afghan army and police, who have taken over responsibility for thwarting the Taliban.
In Saturday’s attack, a neighbouring building was engulfed in flames as security forces hunted down the militants, at least one of whom detonated a suicide vest.
On Thursday, the Taliban struck at a foreign guesthouse, wounding a guard, and a suicide bomber targeted a British embassy vehicle in a blast that killed six people.
Kabul has been hit by at least nine attacks in the last two weeks.
On Sunday President Ashraf Ghani described the Taliban as “a small minority who want to hijack the nation”.