Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, executive mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, issued an appeal for calm ahead of the court hearing of Pastor Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng and four other individuals charged with violence.
The five are scheduled to appear in Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday to face charges of violence and intimidation stemming from viral footage captured at Matsediso Primary School in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni.
According to the Star, the five accused, including Motsoeneng, face a number of accusations, including assault, careless handling of a firearm that could harm life and property, offering security services while not registered, malicious damage to property, assault, and intimidation.
Mayor Xhakaza expressed disappointment in recent incidences of violence during an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Wednesday morning.
“We were shocked, and really we are calling for calm because the pastor is a leader of a church – a very important institution in our society. A lot is affected out of our churches and church leadership,” said Xhakaza.
“We were very disappointed because our society expects schools to be a place of learning, but importantly to be a place of safety. Even if there is family issues, there are better ways and better, established mechanisms to resolve them. We are really disappointed and we are with the teachers, with the school governing body and the learners.
“We are very happy with how the Department of Education has swiftly responded by making sure that they are available and they do provide the necessary intervention,” said the mayor.
The violent incident on school grounds was apparently tied to a family disagreement over custody of Motsoeneng’s grandchildren.
The children’s mother reportedly died in April, sparking a feud between the paternal and maternal sides of the family. The pastor of the Incredible Happenings Church entered the school on Monday, accompanied by two guys holding a panga and a rifle.
During a heated argument, teachers attempted to separate the students from the three, but they were able to haul them out of the school while the minors cried loudly.
Angry community members and students set fire to Motsoeneng’s church building. The enormous white marquee where members of Motsoeneng’s Incredible Happenings Church used to assemble for weekly services was destroyed in an arson attack by students from various schools.
