‘Pastor’ arrested for murder of 3-month-old, rape of woman

A 36-year-old man, alleged to be a pastor, has been arrested in connection with the murder of a four-month-old infant and the alleged rape of his 43-year-old wife. The infant's remains were discovered in a shallow grave on Wednesday. Initially, it was reported that the woman had gone to the Hennops River near the R511 road with her pastor and his spouse for a ritual.

Upon arrival, the pastor's wife reportedly remained with the infant while the pastor and the woman proceeded to the river. Allegedly, the woman was then raped and restrained. The victim managed to free herself and seek assistance at a nearby construction site. A search operation was initiated, leading to the discovery of the 24-year-old woman at the scene.

She was subsequently questioned by the police and provided crucial information. This led investigators to a shallow grave where the infant's body was found. Subsequently, the pastor was located in Diepsloot, where he was apprehended hiding in a backroom of an informal settlement, sustaining injuries. According to police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the arrest brings the total number of suspects arrested in connection with the incident to three.

These include the suspect's two wives, who appeared before Atteridgeville Magistrates' Court on October 9, 2026. The suspect is scheduled to appear before court on Monday, October 12, 2026.