Pastor Mboro Denied Bail After School Incident

The controversial Paseka Motsoeneng, widely known as Pastor Mboro, and his bodyguard, Clement Baloyi, were denied bail in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Monday. This situation stems from accusations that Motsoeneng brandished a panga at the Matsediso Primary School in Katlehong.

Motsoeneng, who has previously claimed to have visited heaven, was arrested alongside Baloyi and a 27-year-old relative. While the relative was granted bail, Motsoeneng and Baloyi remain in custody.

During the bail application, Motsoeneng’s lawyer argued that the charges were driven by political motives, suggesting that some police officers were influenced by higher authorities to keep him behind bars. “This is politics in court,” said Dhlamini, the lawyer.

He further claimed that the evidence for denying bail was weak and that the three individuals involved were not a flight risk, emphasizing that Motsoeneng’s reputation and popularity in South Africa were causing backlash in the judicial process.

Dhlamini also pointed out that recent disclosures about Motsoeneng’s nine previous arrests—where charges were withdrawn—should not affect the current case. He insisted that unless those charges are reinstated, they shouldn’t be a factor in the bail decision.

According to the investigating officer, some of those older charges are under investigation, but specific details about when they occurred or were withdrawn remain unclear.

The lawyer contended that the state failed to provide justification for keeping Motsoeneng in jail, claiming there is no evidence he poses a threat to the community.