A trip to the Hennops River for an alleged ritual ended in horror after a mother was allegedly raped and her four-month-old baby was later found buried in a shallow grave.
Gauteng police have launched a manhunt for a pastor following the shocking incident near the R511 on Wednesday, 7 October.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, preliminary information indicates that the 43-year-old woman had travelled to the Hennops River with the pastor and his 24-year-old wife to take part in a ritual.
When they arrived, the pastor’s wife allegedly remained behind with the four-month-old baby while the pastor and the mother walked towards the river.
Police allege that the woman was then raped and tied up.
She eventually managed to free herself and made her way to a nearby construction site, where she sought help.
A private security company was called before police were alerted.
A major search operation involving Crime Scene Management, Search and Rescue, General Detectives, Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences detectives and drone operators was launched to find the missing baby and locate the pastor and his wife.
Police later found the pastor’s 24-year-old wife and took her in for questioning.
Colonel Nevhuhulwi said the woman subsequently led investigators to a shallow grave, where the baby’s body was discovered.
The pastor, however, was nowhere to be found.
Police have opened cases of kidnapping, rape and murder, while the search for the man continues.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged ritual, the attack on the mother and the death of the infant now form part of the police investigation.
Anyone with information that may assist police in locating the suspect is urged to contact SAPS.
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