Pastor arrested in connection with murder of baby

Police have arrested a 36-year-old pastor who was wanted in connection with the murder of a four-month-old baby and the alleged rape of her 43-year-old mother.

The suspect was arrested on Saturday afternoon after police found him hiding in a backroom in Diepsloot informal settlement.

His arrest brings the total number of suspects arrested in connection with the incident to three, including the suspect's two wives, who appeared before the Atteridgeville Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Preliminary information from police indicates that the baby's mother was lured to the Hennops River near the R511 road in Hartbeespoort by the pastor and his 24-year-old wife under the pretext of performing a ritual.

The pastor's wife allegedly remained with the baby while the pastor and the woman walked towards the river.

According to police, the woman was allegedly raped and tied up.

She managed to free herself and sought help at a nearby construction site, where a private security company was activated, and police were alerted.

A multidisciplinary police team, including Crime Scene Management, Search and Rescue, General Detectives, Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences detectives and drone operators, was deployed to search for the missing infant and the suspects.

The pastor's wife was later located and questioned. Police say she led investigators to a shallow grave, where the baby's body was found in the west of Tshwane.

The pastor is expected to appear in court on Monday.

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