PASTOR AND TWO WOMEN REMAIN BEHIND BARS!
BABIES BODY FOUND IN SHALLOW GRAVE!
A 36-year-old pastor and two women accused of involvement in the death of a four-month-old baby whose body was discovered in a shallow grave near the Hennops River are expected to remain in custody after their case was postponed to Friday, 16 October, for further investigation and bail-related processes.
Pastor Caiphus Mkhawane and his two co-accused appeared before the Atteridgeville Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 12 October, following the pastor’s arrest over the weekend in Diepsloot.
The case has shocked communities across Gauteng because of the disturbing allegations surrounding the infant’s death and the alleged rape of the child’s mother.
According to reports from court, the accused face charges including conspiracy to commit murder and fraud.
Mkhawane and one of the women also face additional charges linked to premeditated murder, rape, kidnapping, human trafficking and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Police launched a manhunt for Mkhawane after the incident, which reportedly occurred on Wednesday, 7 October, near the Hennops River along the R511.
The 36-year-old was arrested on Saturday, 10 October, in a back room in Diepsloot informal settlement.
Police said the suspect was found with injuries following an intensive investigation involving detectives and Crime Intelligence.
His arrest brought the number of suspects in custody to three, and the two women had been arrested earlier in the investigation, with one allegedly leading police to the place where the baby’s body was buried.
The arrests marked a significant development in a case that initially centred on the search for the missing infant and the pastor, who was wanted in connection with the alleged crimes.
WHAT ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED AT THE RIVER?
Preliminary police information indicates that the 43-year-old mother went to the Hennops River with the pastor and one of his wives for what was described as a religious ritual.
The woman was allegedly taken towards the river, where she was raped and tied up.
However, she reportedly managed to free herself and escape to a nearby construction site to seek assistance.
Police subsequently launched a search operation involving detectives, search-and-rescue teams, crime-scene specialists and members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit.
During the investigation, the pastor’s 24-year-old wife was located and questioned, and she allegedly directed officers to a shallow grave where the infant’s body was found.
The discovery turned the search into a murder investigation, while detectives continued working to establish the circumstances surrounding the child’s death and the alleged involvement of each suspect.
FUNERAL POLICIES RAISE FURTHER QUESTIONS!
The court proceedings have brought another troubling aspect of the case into focus with reports indicate that several funeral policies were allegedly taken out in the mother’s name in August, before the incident.
The allegation has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the policies and whether they are connected to the alleged offences.
The accused are also facing fraud-related charges, and this could also fuel their chances of getting bail.
Investigators will have to establish the relevance of the policies to the case and whether the available evidence supports the charges. At this stage, the allegations should not be treated as proof of guilt.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has condemned the incident and welcomed the arrest of the alleged pastor, describing the development as an important step towards accountability.
The provincial government also expressed condolences to the bereaved family and highlighted the seriousness of violence against women and children.
The case has renewed concerns about the exploitation of trust within religious settings, particularly where vulnerable people seek spiritual guidance and protection.