Refugees living in the Methodist Church in Cape Town, South Africa turned against one of the leaders on Sunday (December 29) after a dispute about a church service.

Police were called out to manage the situation on Sunday night after refugees demanded that JP Balous leave the church.

The refugees also accuse JP Balous of profiting from their crisis through his NGO as well as misleading them through false promises.

The refugees have been at the church since the end of October in fear of xenophobic attacks.

Footage filmed on Sunday (December 29) shows a man being violently assaulted by some members of the crowd, for allegedly being in a vehicle that contained dangerous weapons such as machetes.

A standoff developed between refugees and the police outside the Central Methodist church in Cape Town after a disagreement about a church service.

According to one of the leaders, Papisse Sukami (Papi), a conflict developed after a fellow leader, JP Balous, demanded that a Sunday morning service in the Central Methodist Church be cancelled.

Fellow refugees at the church also accused JP Balous of profiting from their crisis through his NGO (non-governmental organisation), as well as misleading them through false promises, and clashing with people and organisations who offered to assist them.

A man was violently assaulted by some members of the crowd, for allegedly being in a vehicle that contained dangerous weapons such as machetes.

The refugees took refuge in the church, after Reverend Alan Storey opened the doors to them, after the police moved them by force from the UNHCR at the end of October.

According to people living in the church, JP Balous has barricaded himself in the church, fearing he will be attacked by the crowd. South African police are monitoring the situation.