‘Prophet’ sues for R11m over eviction

PASEKA Motsoeneng, popularly known as Prophet Mboro of the Incredible Happenings Ministry, is claiming R11million from a company that evicted his church in 2016.

The trial of the long-standing legal battle between Motsoeneng and Incredible Happenings Ministry against Metcash Trading and Franjenron over lease agreements started yesterday in the South Gauteng High Court.

In May 2016, Incredible Happenings Ministry was evicted from a building in Wadeville, Germiston.

The church was sub-leasing from Metcash Trading, a building owned by Franjenron in Wadeville. According to a court order issued by the South Gauteng High Court in 2016, Incredible Happenings Ministry was supposed to vacate the premises on August 30 of that year.

Motsoeneng’s lawyer, Wilson Mose Mkhawana, said there was a surplus agreement between the church and Metcash Trading.

“When they (Metcash) approached the prophet, they indicated that they were subletting the property to him. After that they said they would sell shares to him and they promised that they would rezone the property so that it could become a church, but those things were never done,” he said.

Motsoeneng argues that the agreement was a lease to buy for R14m and that he had paid R11m, which he now wants back.

During the court proceedings, Judge Bashier Vally heard that Incredible Happenings Ministry filed a counter-suit worth R1m against Metcash on Thursday after he accused Metcash of fraud.

He also blamed the delays in the case proceeding in court on Metcash failing to produce the surety.

Metcash’s attorney, Lionel dos Possos, said he felt that the counter-suit was meant to delay the matter.

Judge Vally also emphasised that the matter must be dealt with swiftly because the parties had been fighting since 2014 – before the eviction took place.

The matter was postponed to allow Metcash Trading Limited to respond to the counter-suit.

Speaking outside the court, Motsoeneng said Incredible Happenings would continue with the mandate of saving and changing lives, despite “all these scams and tricks that were done by evil forces to shut us down”.

The case will proceed today.