Pastor Paseka Mboro’s Incredible Happenings Church was burned to the ground on Tuesday afternoon after a group of youths marched to its premises in Katlehong.
Scores of school children skipped school and joined community members to protest against Mboro’s violent foray into a Katlehong school on Monday. The church, a marquee tent, was completely engulfed in flames, with black smoke billowing into the sky.
Authorities eventually arrived to extinguish the fire, but the church was burned to ashes, leaving nothing behind.
A resident told Newzroom Afrika that Mboro’s behavior had traumatized their children. However, other residents expressed devastation over the vandalism of their church. “This man [Mboro] has built houses and he has healed us… These school children that came here, Mboro went to their school and bought them uniforms and school shoes. I am very disappointed about this incident,” said one resident.
Mboro, real name Paseka Motsoeneng, and three others were arrested on Monday evening for the violence that occurred when two pupils, believed to be his grandchildren, were forcibly removed from a school in Katlehong. He is involved in a dispute over the maintenance and custody of the children following their mother’s death.
In a viral video, Mboro, accompanied by other men and a bodyguard armed with what is believed to be a replica rifle, is seen intimidating and harassing teachers. He was also seen charging at staff members with a panga, who tried to stop him and those filming the incident.
Mboro and three others were arrested on charges of assault, handling a firearm recklessly, rendering security services without registration, malicious damage to property, and intimidation.
This is a developing story.