A controversial South African preacher’s church was torched after he allegedly wielded machetes at a primary school and forcibly removed his grandchildren.
Pastor Mboro’s Incredible Happenings Church was set on fire by angry children on Tuesday, local reports said.
The day before, a widely circulated video emerged showing Pastor Mboro – whose real name is Paseka Motsoeneng – brandishing blades during a tense standoff with teachers in Katlehong, a township on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
He is flanked by a man carrying what police have identified as a replica firearm.
Provincial authorities said the two children filmed being removed are at the center of a custody battle after their mother passed away.
Five people were arrested following the incident at the school, police said.
They said the video showed “acts of intimidation and violence” and men “harassing students and teachers”.
Separate video footage shows Pastor Mboro’s tented church on fire as thick, black smoke pours from it.
Students in school uniforms were seen running away from the church, which was also looted, News 24 reported.
Authorities in Ekurhuleni district, where the church is located, said on social media platform X: “Anger erupted after Mboro was not arrested following yesterday’s incident, leading to the tent burning.”
The post said that Pastor Mboro was arrested on Tuesday morning, but police did not confirm whether he was one of the five people detained.
Pastor Mboro is a self-styled prophet with thousands of followers across South Africa.
He claimed to perform miracles, such as healing people during sermons and releasing a fish from a pregnant woman’s womb.
South African Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube commented on the incident at the primary school, posting on X: “I am absolutely outraged by this attack on our schools, staff and students.
“No one – absolutely no one – should be storming schools with weapons, disrupting teaching and learning and terrorizing children.”
Police said those arrested were charged with crimes including assault, intimidation and malicious damage to property.
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