The church of a controversial South African preacher has been burned down after he allegedly wielded machetes at a primary school and forcibly removed his grandchildren.

Pastor Mboro’s Incredible Happenings Church was set alight by angry schoolchildren on Tuesday, local reports said.

The day before, a widely circulated video appeared to show Pastor Mboro – real name Paseka Motsoeneng – waving blades during a tense stand-off with teachers in Katlehong, a township just outside Johannesburg.

Five people were arrested following the incident at the school, police said.