Several funeral policies were taken out on the life of the mother of a murdered four-month-old, the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng heard on Monday.
The pastor, who had been on the run after the child’s murder and the rape of her mother, was arrested at the weekend.
In the dock, Pastor Caiphus Mkhawane, 36, his wife Tsako Angel Makhubela, 25, and Amanda Manono Mnguni, 32, were formally charged with conspiracy to commit murder and fraud.
The pastor and his wife were further slapped with charges of human trafficking, premeditated murder, rape, two counts of kidnapping, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The court heard that in August, the accused allegedly took out several funeral policies in the name of the mother of the child.
On October 7, Mkhawane, Makhubela and the mother and child travelled to the Hennops River under the pretext of performing religious rituals intended to free the mother from evil spirits and provide protection for her children.
Upon arrival at an area near the river, Mkhawane and Makhubela instructed the mother to undress and tied her up. Makhubela allegedly washed the woman using water from a bucket. Mkhawane thereafter went with the woman to the river, leaving the child with his wife.
Upon arrival at the river, Mkhwane washed the woman again and then raped her.
After he left the woman, he and his wife allegedly killed the child together.
The woman, who was tied up, managed to loosen herself and ran to a nearby construction site for assistance.
Later, police tracked down the pastor’s wife who led them to a shallow grave where the four-month-old baby was buried.
The provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Lumka Mahanjana, confirmed said Makhubela was arrested on October 7 after being identified by the woman. Mnguni was arrested later that same day, while Mkhawane was arrested on Saturday, October 10.
“The NPA remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of gender-based violence and related offences are held accountable through the criminal justice system,” Mahanjana said.
The case has been postponed until October 16, for legal aid representation and bail investigation. The three will remain in custody.
