GAUTENG – Police are hunting a Gauteng pastor who allegedly raped a 43-year-old woman and killed her four-month-old baby after luring them to a remote river location for a so-called spiritual ritual.

The woman’s baby was found buried in a shallow grave near the Hennops River in Atteridgeville on Wednesday, hours after construction workers spotted something suspicious and raised the alarm.

Lured to river for ritual

The woman, who attends the same church as the suspect in Diepsloot, travelled with the pastor and his 24-year-old wife to the river near the R511 on Wednesday morning.

Police say the pastor’s wife stayed behind with the baby while the man took the woman towards the river.

The mother managed to break free after the attack and ran to a nearby construction site where Department of Roads and Transport workers were operating. They immediately contacted private security and police.

Baby found in shallow grave

A major operation followed, with police deploying Crime Scene Management, Search and Rescue, General Detectives, the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit, and drone operators to comb the area.

Officers found and arrested the pastor’s wife. She then led detectives to where the baby’s body lay buried in a shallow grave close to the river.

Police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevuhulwi confirmed that officers have opened cases of kidnapping, rape and murder.

She said that the victim managed to free herself and found help at a nearby construction site, whereafter the police were alerted.

The pastor remains on the run while investigators continue searching for him.

‘Savage act of barbarism’

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has called the crime a savage act of barbarism and urged anyone with information to come forward.

“We condemn this savage act of barbarism that has taken an infant from a family, violated an innocent woman, and caused deep pain and anxiety to the family and the entire community. No parent should ever face such trauma,” Lesufi said.

He offered his condolences to the mother and family, adding that those responsible must face the full force of the law.

The premier praised the construction workers whose quick thinking helped authorities respond rapidly.

“Their quick thinking and decision to alert the authorities made a critical difference, enabling the Office of the Premier to mobilise law enforcement resources, including a helicopter search,” a provincial government statement said.

The provincial government said this crime, like other recent attacks on women and children, strengthens Gauteng’s determination to root out gender-based violence and femicide.

“The provincial government will continue using every available resource and working closely with the South African Police Service and communities, until GBVF is wiped out from our society,” the statement said.

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