The family of the four-month-old murdered after her mother was raped near the Hennops River is calling for justice as the three accused are expected to reappear in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
The baby’s body was discovered in a shallow grave near the river, close to the R511.
The accused are 36-year-old pastor Caiphus Mkhawane and his two wives, Tsako Angel Makhubela and Amanda Manono Mnguni. They face multiple charges, including fraud and conspiracy to commit murder.
Mkhawane and Makhubela also face charges of premeditated murder, rape, human trafficking and robbery with aggravating circumstances arising from the incident.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), they took out several funeral insurance policies in the name of the baby’s mother.
The NPA alleges that, on the day of the incident, Mkhawane and Makhubela travelled with the mother and her baby to the Hennops River under the pretext of performing religious rituals to free the woman from evil spirits and to protect her children.
“Upon arriving at an area near the river, the two instructed the victim to undress, tied her up and Makhubela allegedly washed her using water from a bucket,” NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said.
Mkhawane then accompanied the woman to the river, leaving the baby with Makhubela. At the river, the pastor allegedly washed the woman again before raping her.
“After the rape, the pastor went to take the child from the wife and they both went to the bushes where they killed the child,” Mahanjana said.
The woman allegedly managed to escape and reported the incident to nearby construction workers, who helped contact the police.
Mkhawane reportedly fled the scene but was arrested on October 10 after police found him hiding in Diepsloot.
Family left searching for answers
Speaking on behalf of the family, the woman’s elder daughter said she was devastated when she learnt of her younger sister’s death and the rape of their mother.
A neighbour had informed her of the incident after seeing reports about it circulating on social media.
“I was not home when the incident happened, but upon finding out, I was distraught. We only see such incidents reported in the media, and I never thought it would happen to our family,” she said.
She added that the family was struggling to understand what could have led to the crimes, given their longstanding relationship with the pastor and his church.
“My mother has been attending the church for about four years now,” she said.
The accused and the victims lived in the same informal settlement in Diepsloot Extension 1
Family appeals for counselling support
The incident has left the family traumatised as they struggle to come to terms with the loss of the baby and the rape of their mother.
The woman said her mother had not been the same since the incident and that the family would welcome assistance from organisations able to provide counselling and emotional support.
“This incident will change our lives forever because my mother has never been her normal self since it happened. She cries every day over what happened to my sister. She wants her baby back,” she said, adding they were grateful to people who had come forward to help the family prepare for the baby’s burial and organise a candlelight vigil in her memory.
She said the baby girl had been healthy, had brought joy to the family and they had looked forward to her future with hope.
Family calls for justice
As the accused prepare to return to court, the family commended the police for their response and the arrests.
The woman said the family was counting on the justice system to ensure that those responsible were held accountable.
The family is also opposed to the accused being granted bail.
Various organisations working to combat gender-based violence have expressed support for the family following the accused’s first court appearance.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi also condemned the incident, saying the provincial government was supporting the police investigation.
“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,” Lesufi said.
