Katlehong residents set alight the church of controversial religious leader Pastor Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng yesterday.
The church, known as ‘Incredible Happenings’, located just behind the Katlehong North police station, was also looted shortly before it was set alight.
News24 reported seeing several pupils in school uniform running from the burning church.
Some had gathered outside Matsediso Primary School while others met at the police station, less than 100 metres away from the church.
During the chaos, several people were spotted fleeing with electric cables, speakers, chairs, and other items from the church.
Firefighting teams from the Ekurhuleni municipality responded swiftly, arriving just minutes after flames had completely consumed the church.
Ekurhuleni district commissioner Major General Anna Sithole said pupils from neighbouring schools started the blaze.
Sithole added that those who had started the blaze, and others who looted items in the presence of local police officers would be arrested.
A video went viral on Monday showing Motsoeneng waving a machete, in a tense stand-off with a group of teachers at Matsediso Primary School.
He had gone to the school to fetch two children, of whom he allegedly did not have custody.
Motsoeneng claimed he went to the school, accompanied by the children’s father, to take them away. He said there had been disputes over the children since their mother died.
Four people were arrested after the violent altercation.
News24 understands that Motsoeneng was among them, although police would not confirm whether he was in fact one of those arrested. A fifth person was arrested yesterday.