Pastor Paseka Mboro of the Incredible Happenings Church has been granted bail after spending more than 40 days in police custody.
Mboro was released on R3,000 bail, while his bodyguard, Vincent Baloyi, was released with strict conditions.
The Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court postponed the case to 21 October for further investigation.
During the bail hearing, state prosecutor Pheello Vilakazi told the court that the case had been downgraded from a schedule five to a schedule one offence.
“The state is not opposing bail but with strict conditions,” Vilakazi said.
Mboro cannot contact his grandchildren’s maternal family, communicate with witnesses, or visit the children’s school.
After his release, a relieved Mboro said he went to jail to protect his son.
“If I hadn’t acted, my son might have been killed. They [the community] were threatening his life,” he said.
Mboro said his son had been attacked and locked inside the school where he had gone to demand his two grandchildren be released into his custody.
He admitted to carrying a fake firearm and pangas but insisted he intended to protect himself, not harm anyone.
“I was praying they [the community] wouldn’t come closer,” he said.
Mboro shared that his time in prison was a tough experience.
“Prison is no joke. Whatever you do, don’t get caught,” he warned.
Mboro was arrested on 5 August, along with his son Vincent Motshoeneng, who was released with a warning earlier in the case, and bodyguard Clement Baloyi.
The trio faces charges of kidnapping, firearm offences, assault, and malicious damage to property.
The incident happened when they went to Matshidiso Primary School in Katlehong, armed
