Rape, murder case against self-proclaimed pastor postponed

The murder of a four-month-old baby allegedly by a self-proclaimed pastor and his two wives has prompted calls for greater accountability by religious leaders.

The accused Caiphus Mkhawane, Ntsako Makhubela and Amanda Mnguni appeared briefly before the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court, west of Pretoria Friday morning, where the case was postponed to Friday next week.

They face multiple charges including premeditated murder, rape, human trafficking, kidnapping, fraud and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

The state alleges Mkhawane also raped the infant’s mother during a religious cleansing ritual in the Hennops River in Centurion.

The baby’s body was found in a shallow grave near the river.

Attending court proceedings, Pastor Samuel Seale from The Coming Jesus Ministry labelled the self-proclaimed pastor as a ritualist.

“There is a difference between a pastor and a ritualist.

When we checked the database of pastors who have churches in Diepsloot, we found that he doesn’t have a church.

He attends church under the trees, so he is a ritualist.” -Report by Nonhlanhla Ntshingila