A controversial South African preacher’s church was set on fire by angry schoolchildren after he allegedly wielded machetes at a primary school and forcibly removed his grandchildren.
Pastor Mboro’s Incredible Happenings Church was burned down on Tuesday, according to local reports.
The fire started after a video showed Pastor Mboro, whose real name is Paseka Motsoeneng, brandishing blades during a standoff with teachers in Katlehong, a township near Johannesburg.
In the video, Pastor Mboro is seen with a man who police identified as carrying a replica firearm. The two young children shown being taken away are at the center of a custody dispute following their mother’s death.
Five people were arrested in connection with the school incident. Police described the video as showing “acts of intimidation and violence” with men “harassing learners and teachers.”
Another video captured the church, housed in a marquee tent, engulfed in flames with thick black smoke billowing out. Pupils in school uniforms were seen fleeing from the church, which was also looted.
Authorities in Ekurhuleni, where the church is located, posted on social media platform X, saying, “Anger erupted after Mboro wasn’t arrested following yesterday’s incident, leading to the tent burning.”
The post mentioned that Pastor Mboro was arrested on Tuesday morning, but police have not confirmed if he was among the five detained.
Pastor Mboro is known for his controversial claims of performing miracles, such as healing people during sermons and delivering a fish from the womb of a pregnant woman. He has thousands of followers across South Africa.
South African Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube reacted to the school incident, stating on X: “I am absolutely incensed by this attack on our schools, staff, and learners. No one—absolutely no one—should break into schools with weapons, interrupt teaching and learning time, and terrorize children.”
Police said those arrested face charges including assault, intimidation, and malicious damage to property.
