The Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court has granted Incredible Happenings Church pastor Paseka ‘Mboro’ Motsoeneng bail of R3,000. Mboro and his…
The Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court has granted Incredible Happenings Church pastor Paseka ‘Mboro’ Motsoeneng bail of R3,000.
Mboro and his bodyguard Clement Baloyi returned to the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court for his new bail application bid on “new facts”.
The prosecutor on Thursday said that the state was of the view that one of the firearms held by Motsoeneng did not fall under the relevant section of the Firearms Act.
ALSO READ: Magistrate to stay in Pastor Mboro case after state’s recusal application fails
Based on the new evidence before court, Motsoeneng’s bail application was therefore not a schedule 5 matter, said the prosecutor.
This was Mboro’s second attempt at bail.
Mboro’s first attempt
Magistrate Katlego Mokoena initially denied him bail on 19 August. His son was, however, released on warning.
Mboro, Baloyi and his son face 12 charges, including kidnapping, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and assault.
This after an incident at Matsediso Primary School in Katlehong, where the accused allegedly kidnapped two minors on 5 August.
A video of the event went viral on social media, showing the three men armed with pangas and an assault rifle as they forcefully took the children.
READ MORE: ‘He deserves to be in jail,’ say Pastor Mboro’s family outside court
Mboro’s church was reduced to ashes after it was set on fire by a mob, predominantly composed of schoolchildren, just a day after his arrest.
The incident intensified a custody dispute between the pastor’s son and the children’s maternal family following the death of their mother.
The grandmother and the children’s uncle were also arrested, taking the total number of suspects to five.
They were granted bail of R1 000 each and will return to court on 10 September.
Additional reporting by Molefe Seeletsa
