A Gauteng pastor accused of raping a woman and murdering her four-month-old baby allegedly helped take out funeral policies in the mother’s name weeks before the attack.
The revelation emerged on Monday, 12 October, when Pastor Caiphus Mkhawane (36) and two women appeared in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on charges including conspiracy to commit murder and fraud.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has now revealed chilling details of the alleged attack, which took place near the Hennops River on 7 October.
Mkhawane appeared alongside Tsako Angel Makhubela (25) and Amanda Manono Mnguni (32).
All three face charges of conspiracy to commit murder and fraud.
Mkhawane and Makhubela also face charges of human trafficking, premeditated murder, rape, two counts of kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Funeral policies taken out weeks before alleged murder
NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the accused allegedly arranged several funeral policies in August, two months before the baby’s death.
“It is alleged that during August 2026, the accused took out several funeral policies in the name of the victim, who is the mother of the deceased infant,” Mahanjana said.
The NPA has not disclosed the value of the policies or whether any claims were submitted.
Prosecutors allege that Mkhawane and Makhubela lured the mother to the Hennops River on 7 October under the pretence of performing a religious ritual.
The ceremony was supposedly intended to rid her of evil spirits and protect her children.
Instead, the woman allegedly found herself restrained and sexually assaulted.
According to Mahanjana, the accused instructed the mother to undress before tying her up.
Makhubela allegedly washed the woman with water from a bucket before Mkhawane led her towards the river.
There, the pastor allegedly washed her again before raping her.
The accused now face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, rape, murder, robbery, kidnapping, fraud and human trafficking.
— Jacaranda FM Newswatch (@JacaNewswatch) October 12, 2026
National Prosecuting Authority Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana. pic.twitter.com/632Yig1wva
Four-month-old baby allegedly killed in bushes
What happened next forms part of the murder allegations against Mkhawane and Makhubela.
“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 mother managed to escape and reached nearby construction workers, who helped alert the police.
The baby’s death triggered a police investigation and a search for the pastor.
Earlier reports detailed how investigators discovered the infant’s body in a shallow grave while searching for those responsible.
Mkhawane remained at large until police arrested him on Saturday, 10 October.
Three accused appear in court
Mahanjana confirmed that Erasmia detectives arrested Makhubela on 7 October after the mother identified her.
Police arrested Mnguni later that day.
Mkhawane was taken into custody three days later.
The NPA has not disclosed Mnguni’s alleged involvement in the attack beyond the charges of conspiracy to commit murder and fraud.
The case was postponed to Friday, 16 October, for legal aid representation and bail investigations.
The three accused have not been convicted, and the allegations remain before the court.