By Doreen Mokgolo
Margaret Malaza, the maternal grandmother of Pastor Paseka ‘Mboro’ Motsoeneng’s grandchildren, says she has been living in fear since he was released on bail on 12 September.
On Monday, during the controversial pastor’s appearance alongside his co-accused – son Vincent Motsoeneng and bodyguard Clement Baloi – at the Palm Ridge Magistratess Court, she asked the court to stop him from mentioning her name during his media briefings.
The court prosecutor said: “Margaret Malaza said that in September and October, the accused spoke to various media outlets and mentioned her name, accusing her of burning his church.
“He also boasted about owning many firearms, and now she feels unsafe, even while walking in public places like shopping malls.”
A mob of schoolchildren burned Mboro’s church following the incident where he and his two co-accused stormed Matshidiso Secondary School and demanded the release of his two grandchildren in Grade R and Grade 2, against their maternal grandmother’s orders.
Mboro’s lawyer, Phillip Dlamini, argued the claims were baseless and that the request to change the bail conditions was new to the defence.
“We don’t have a charge sheet, and we were never informed about the witnesses,” he said. “Now, the grandmother is suddenly a witness. It’s public knowledge that the church was burned down, and as the church leader, he has to address the media.”
One of Mboro’s bail conditions is that he must not contact his grandchildren’s maternal family, speak to any witnesses, or visit the children’s school.
The case was postponed to 11 November. Mboro is out on R3,000 bail, and his son and bodyguard were released on warning.
The trio face charges including kidnapping, malicious damage to property, and possessing a firearm.
Pictured above: Pastor Paseka Motsoeneng and his co-accused Clement Baloi and Vincent Motsoeneng.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
