Arrests after South African pastor storms school with machete

Pastor Mboro – real name Paseka Motsoeneng – has thousands of followers across South Africa

Getty Images A close-up shot of Paseka Motsoeneng, known as Pastor Mboro, in a blue suit — Pastor Mboro – real name Paseka Motsoeneng – has thousands of followers across South Africa

The church of a controversial South African preacher has been burned down after he allegedly wielded machetes at a primary school and forcibly removed his grandchildren.

Pastor Mboro’s Incredible Happenings Church was set alight by angry schoolchildren on Tuesday, local reports said.

The day before, a widely circulated video appeared to show Pastor Mboro – real name Paseka Motsoeneng – waving blades during a tense stand-off with teachers in Katlehong, a township just outside Johannesburg.

He is flanked by a man carrying what police have since identified as a replica firearm.

Provincial authorities said the two young children filmed being removed are at the centre 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 learners and teachers”.

Separate video footage shows Pastor Mboro’s church, housed in a marquee tent, going up in flames as thick, black smoke billows from it.

Pupils in school uniform were seen running from the church, which was also looted, News 24 reported.

Authorities in the district of Ekurhuleni, where the church is located, said on social media platform X: “Anger erupted after Mboro wasn’t arrested following yesterday’s incident, leading to the tent burning.”

The post said Pastor Mboro was arrested on Tuesday morning, but the police have not confirmed if he was one of the five people detained.

Pastor Mboro is a self-styled prophet with thousands of followers across South Africa.

He has claimed to perform miracles such as healing people during sermons and delivering a fish from the womb of a pregnant woman.

South African education minister Siviwe Gwarube commented on the incident at the primary school, posting 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 interrupting teaching and learning time and terrorising children.”

Police said those arrested have been charged with crimes such as assault, intimidation and malicious damage to property.