GAUTENG. – A four-month-old baby's body was found in a shallow grave near the Hennops River on Wednesday, after the baby's 43-year-old mother was allegedly raped and restrained by a man she knew as her pastor. Police are searching for the pastor in connection with the incident, which according to preliminary information took place during a religious ritual.
Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, police spokesperson, said the woman visited the Hennops River near the R511 with the pastor and his wife. His 24-year-old wife allegedly remained with the baby while he and the mother moved towards the river. The mother managed to free herself and obtained help from a nearby construction site, after which a private security company was called and police were notified. A multidisciplinary team was deployed to search for the baby. The pastor's wife was later traced and led the search team to the shallow grave where the baby's body was found. Police are investigating charges of kidnapping, rape and murder, while the search for the pastor continues.
Ian Cameron, parliamentary chairperson of the police portfolio committee, has meanwhile called on social media for the national register of sex offenders to be made accessible to the public. He pointed out that it is not yet known whether the suspect has previous convictions.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
