Prophet Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng and his bodyguard, Vincent Baloyi, were denied bail and remanded in custody, while a third accused, a relative, was released with a warning. The case has been postponed to October 21.
Magistrate Katlego Mokwena expressed dissatisfaction with the affidavits and arguments presented by the state, indicating that the prosecution had failed to establish a strong Schedule 6 case to justify denying bail. “Accused one, Mboro, and his bodyguard, Baloyi, did not provide sufficient reasons to warrant bail, while the investigating officers also failed to justify why the third accused should be denied bail,” Mokwena stated.
The remarks were made during the conclusion of bail proceedings in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court in Ekurhuleni on Monday, August 19. Mboro, his relative, and Baloyi face a series of charges, including kidnapping, following a violent incident at Matsediso Primary School in Katlehong on August 5. The event, which was captured on video and went viral on social media, resulted in Mboro’s tent church being destroyed by fire the next day.
Mboro, his relative, and Baloyi are facing 12 charges, including the kidnapping of minors, possession of dangerous weapons, and the discharge of a firearm. The charges against Mboro include pointing a firearm, assault by threat, assault, malicious damage to property, and possession of dangerous weapons. Baloyi faces additional charges of discharging a firearm and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
During the proceedings, Mboro, who is 66 years old, was seen shaking his head in disbelief and displaying various facial expressions, seemingly indicating that he was falsely accused. His relative, 27, and Baloyi, 43, also sought to convince the court to grant them bail.
Defence lawyer Phillip Dlamini argued that his clients do not pose a danger to the community. “The congregation held two church services in the past two weeks, demonstrating that the community has no issue with Mboro, despite the recent incident when the church was burned down,” Dlamini said.
As Dlamini presented his argument, Mboro was observed in the dock, head bowed in prayer. The defence emphasized that the children involved are Mboro’s grandchildren, making the kidnapping charge inappropriate. “Police confirmed that the children belonged to Motsoeneng and had lived with their late mother in a rented room. Mboro did not kidnap them; he took them to school and returned later in the day to pick them up,” Dlamini explained.
He further added, “Mboro went to the school after learning that his son was under attack. If you, the magistrate, received a call that your child was under attack, you would stop everything to attend to the matter. That is exactly what accused one did.”
