A 36-year-old pastor accused of raping a 43-year-old mother and murdering her four-month-old daughter is expected to appear in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 12 October 2026.
The pastor’s two wives are also expected to appear in court in connection with the case.
The pastor was arrested on Saturday, 10 October, after police found him hiding in a back room at an informal settlement in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg.
His arrest followed a manhunt launched after the baby’s body was discovered in a shallow grave near the Hennops River.
According to police, the mother had gone to the area with the pastor and his wife on Wednesday, 7 October, for what was described as a spiritual cleansing ritual.
The woman reportedly agreed to the ritual after the pastor allegedly contacted her, claiming he had experienced a troubling dream about her and her children. She told Sowetan that she had known the pastor for almost four years and trusted him.
Upon arriving at the river area, the pastor’s wife allegedly remained behind with the baby while the pastor took the mother towards the river.
Police allege that the woman was raped and tied up before managing to free herself and seek help at a nearby construction site.
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