A group of young people have burned down the Incredible Happenings Church belonging to controversial pastor Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng on Tuesday.
Motsoeneng was caught on video swinging pangas at Matsediso Primary School in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, on Monday.
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The men, mostly young boys, were looting steel, speakers, copper cables and anything they can scavenge on.
Ekurhuleni firefighters arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire. While that process was unfolding, the youth were scavenging material while it was still hot.
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One old woman was heard booking the stolen goods from the men.
“Bring me some I will pay you. This steel is a need,” she said.
Community members encouraged the thuggery by the young men saying that the pastor is dirty.
“I am excited that today we are going to make lots of money from this imams (freebies) from the pastor’s church. I am going to be sorted for a long time, said one nyaope user,” said the woman.
Though some people encouraged this crime, a handful of CPF members warned the boys to stop what they were doing.
Some children in school uniform were also seen looting steel materials, saying they were members of Cosas.
Asked for interviews, they declined. However, they continued looting.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has joined parents, Katlehong community members, political parties and civic organisations in lambasting the violent incident.
Mchunu, during a media briefing by the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) Lekgotla on Tuesday, condemned the incident.
“When a community leader carries what appears to be firearms and a bush knife to an institution like education for whatever reason, brandishing such things causes commotion and can cause anxiety in children and among parents of other children. We know that police are dealing with it, they have arrested four people and we hope more arrests will come. That matter is being felt with,” Mchunu said.
Gauteng police confirmed the arrest of four people following acts of intimidation and violence at a primary school in Katlehong.
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza said the five were arrested on Monday night and will appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
“They are facing a variety of charges including assault, handling a firearm recklessly that could endanger lives and property, rendering security services while not registered, malicious damage to property and intimidation.
“The replica firearm and the pangas have since been confiscated. One of the suspects was arrested for assaulting the Station Commander at Katlehong North police station when a group of people were demanding to deal with the local pastor outside the police station. This follows an incident where the local pastor, his security personnel and others stormed Matshidiso Primary School yesterday and forcefully took two minor children.”
The Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni said the possibility of police effecting more arrests cannot be ruled out as investigations into the matter continue.
The Gauteng Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Matome Chiloane said, according to a preliminary report by the department, a conflict between two families over the custody of the boy learners enrolled at the school, in Grade RR and Grade 2, has been escalating. It is said that the mother of the children passed away in April this year, leading to a dispute between the paternal and maternal sides of the family.
On the day of the incident, the father of the children had a meeting with the principal in the morning. Later in the day, the maternal grandmother, who is the alleged guardian of the children, also met with the principal as well to report and inform him about a conflict that occurred during a meeting held over the past weekend at the house of the paternal grandfather, who is the famous South African pastor.
The DA called on Chiloane to urgently enhance the security measures in Gauteng schools to ensure the safety of learners, teachers and staff.
The party also condemned the appalling occurrence and demanded that the pastor and his associates be held accountable for their actions.
“While we note MEC Chiloane’s media statement, we challenge him to act decisively against these school invaders rather than utilising the incident as a public relations exercise,” said Michael Waters, MPL DA Gauteng spokesperson for Education.
Waters said the safety of learners and teachers must be prioritised, and no one, including the pastor is permitted to enter a school and threaten either of them.
“This is one of many incidents in our schools in which dangerous weapons are used to intimidate teachers and learners. Such behaviour is reprehensible and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
“The DA continues to urge the Departments of Education and Community Safety to review the school safety strategy to ensure that learners are safe and taught in an environment free of violence,” Waters said.
ANCYL leader Collen Malatji visited the school and called for the pastor to face the full might of the law.
“I have analysed that there is a family conflict and the environment of school can’t be a place used for a battle where learners and teachers must have fear. I understand that the community is angry, when they send their children to school they expect them to be safe and not expect so-called pastors threatening teachers. The society expect a pastor to be someone who is utilised as an ambassador to educate communities and unite them against crime,” he said.
The star