Fifth suspect arrested in Pastor Mboro’s panga-wielding school attack case

Police have confirmed the arrest of a fifth suspect in connection with an attack at a school in Katlehong.

This follows the arrest of four other people on Monday evening.

Self-proclaimed prophet Pastor Mboro was among a group that forcibly removed two children from the school while waving a panga and automatic rifle.

Church set on fire

The additional arrest comes hours after Mboro’s tented church in Katlehong was set alight by a group of disgruntled community members.

Community members, mostly children in school uniform, were seen trashing the insides of the Incredible Happenings Ministries tent, while others set its panels alight.

ALSO READ: Pastor Mboro’s church in Katlehong set on fire by angry community [VIDEO]

The church was only a short distance away from a police station and officers were on the scene observing the commotion, while firefighters tended to the embers.

Following the fire which gutted the tent, police thanked the community for sharing information that led to the arrest of the fifth suspect.

Four arrested in school incident case

Four suspects were earlier arrested in connection with the dramatic incident filmed at Matsediso Primary School.

Men entered the school and removed two children by force while wielding a panga and an automatic rifle.

In the video, Pastor Mboro was seen swinging a panga wildly in the direction of staff, as the men exited the school with two children believed to be his grandchildren.

ALSO READ: Pastor Mboro arrested after panga-wielding school chaos

Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni confirmed the suspects would face charges of assault and intimidation, as well as malicious damage to property.

School department intervene

Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube urged Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu to have the matter investigated urgently.

“This is the kind of violence that should be condemned and prevented in our schools,” said Gwarube.

“Educators and learners cannot be expected to perform optimally when they are subjected to the risk of such senseless violence at any moment,” she added.