Four women were raped in the Vulani church in Ophaphasi near Kwamsane on Wednesday, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Captain Jabulani Mdletshe said the incident happened early on Wednesday morning inside the church.

The women were part of the Nazareth Baptist church and were attending a night-over service usually attended by female members.

Some of the women were asleep and others preparing to sleep when a group of men entered and demanded cellphones and money.

Seven cellphones were taken. Four of the women were then raped.

Four cases of rape and seven cases of armed robbery were being investigated, Mdletshe said.

Sapa