Police have arrested alleged pastor Caifus Mkhawani, 38, in Diepsloot, bringing to three the number of suspects arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a four-month-old baby girl, Promise Rapela.
Mkhawani was arrested at Diepsloot informal settlement 19 at about 6.55pm on Saturday 10 October by the Erasmia and Tshwane District detective teams led by Captain Smith, following the activation of a location-based service (LBS) tracking operation.
Police said the team was following up on information obtained through the tracking operation when community members alerted them to an injured man in a backroom.
The team rushed to the location and found Mkhawani barefoot and injured. Police believe he may have sustained the injuries while walking over rocky terrain.
He was arrested and is being processed at Atteridgeville police station.
His arrest follows that of his two alleged wives, Ntsako Makhubela, 24, and Amanda Mnguni, 32, who were nabbed earlier in connection with the kidnapping and murder of the baby.
Mnguni was arrested on charges of murder and kidnapping following consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv Nemoarani.
The case stems from an incident on October 7, when the baby’s mother, 43-year-old Priscilla Rapela, was allegedly collected in Diepsloot by the pastor and his wife and taken to the Hennops River area in Erasmia to perform rituals.
According to the initial police report, Rapela handed her baby to the pastor’s wife when they arrived at the river, after which Mkhawani allegedly took the child to the water.
The pastor allegedly overpowered and raped Rapela before tying her up with a piece of cloth.
Rapela managed to free herself and run away to seek help.
The pastor and the woman were reportedly seen fleeing into the bush with the child.
During follow-up investigations, the two female suspects allegedly led police to a shallow grave in the bushes, where the lifeless body of the four-month-old baby was discovered.
The child was identified as Promise Rapela.
Before his arrest, Mkhawani was wanted by police in connection with the case, which includes allegations of kidnapping, rape and the robbery of the mother’s cellphone.
Police deployed several units and role-players, including the SAPS Dog Unit, the drone unit, the police helicopter and private security personnel, to search for the suspects and the missing child.
This is a developing story.
