Mental evaluation ordered for one of the accused in Hennops River baby murder case

Accused number one in the Hennops River baby murder case is to undergo a mental evaluation before proceedings continue
The pastor and his two wives face a string of serious charges, including the premeditated murder of a four-month-old baby
A supposed religious ritual at Hennops River is at the centre of the shocking allegations against the self-proclaimed pastor

Pastor Caiphus Mkhawane, Tsako Angel Makhubela, and Amanda Manono Mnguni appeared in court. Image: @CrimeWatch_RSA
Source: Twitter

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has spent a decade reporting on South Africa's political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG - The Atteridgeville Magistrate's Court has postponed the case against self-proclaimed pastor Caiphus Mkhawane and his two co-accused, with the matter set to return on 29 October 2026.

The matter was postponed to allow accused number one, Ntsako Makhubela, to undergo a mental evaluation. The pastor was arrested along with his wives, Makhubela and Amanda Manono Mnguni.

The three appeared in court on Friday, 23 October, facing a catalogue of serious charges that include conspiracy to commit murder, premeditated murder, rape, human trafficking, kidnapping, fraud, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Mkhawane and one of his wives, Mnguni, also abandoned their bail bids.

What do the charges relate to?

The charges relate to an alleged incident at the Hennops River on 7 October 2026, during what was presented to a 43-year-old woman as a religious ritual. According to reports, the woman accompanied the pastor and one of his wives to the river, where the rape took place.

Her four-month-old baby was allegedly abducted and killed as part of a scheme to fraudulently claim from a funeral policy taken out on the infant's life.

The case has drawn widespread attention and raised urgent questions about accountability among self-styled religious leaders operating outside formal church structures.

The next court date will primarily focus on arrangements for Makhubela's psychiatric assessment, a step that could have significant implications for how the case proceeds against all three accused.

Mental evaluation ordered for one of the accused in Hennops River baby murder case

What do the charges relate to?

Other stories about pastors being arrested