Pastor Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng’s church in Katlehong, east of Johannesburg, was set on fire, allegedly by angry community members and students.
Images of the Incredible Happenings Ministries church tent engulfed in smoke and flames circulated widely on news channels, hours after Mboro’s reported arrest on Tuesday morning.
Earlier that day, four people, including Mboro, were arrested following a violent altercation at Matsediso Primary School in Katlehong, as confirmed by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
The community is divided over Mboro. While some express frustration and accuse his church of being a “cult” without evidence, others see him as a valued member of Katlehong, known for providing houses and food.
A video on social media shows Mboro brandishing two pangas alongside another man holding an assault rifle, threatening school staff and forcefully taking two children.
This incident was reportedly triggered by a custody dispute involving the children, whose mother passed away in April 2024. According to eNCA, the children are Mboro’s grandchildren.
Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said that on Monday, the children’s father met with the principal in the morning.
Later, the maternal grandmother, who is their alleged guardian, also met with the principal to report a conflict that occurred during a recent meeting at Pastor Mboro’s house.
School staff refused to release the children without the grandmother’s permission, leading to Mboro arriving with bodyguards and weapons.
Mabona stated that the school staff and children would receive psychosocial support from the department.
Pastor Mboro has faced controversy before. In 2017, he was arrested and charged after allegedly assaulting a paramedic who was attending to a sick child in his church.
The child later died, and Mboro blamed the paramedics for not responding quickly enough, according to SABC News. Mboro also filed charges of culpable homicide against the paramedics, accusing them of killing the child.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
[BREAKING NEWS] Angry youths set fire to pastor Paseka Mboro's Incredible Happenings Church. Mboro was caught on camera violently threatening pupils and teachers at a Katlehong school. #eNCA #DStv403 #QuestionThinkAct pic.twitter.com/vXNnzZT8oY
— eNCA (@eNCA) August 6, 2024