19/10/2026
HORROR AT HENNOps RIVER: PASTOR AND HIS TWO WIVES FACE SERIOUS CHARGES AFTER DEATH OF FOUR-MONTH-OLD BABY🕊💔
A mother went seeking spiritual help, believing she was taking steps to protect herself and her children. But what allegedly happened during a ritual near the Hennops River in Gauteng has left her traumatised, her family devastated and the community demanding justice.
The case involves 36-year-old self-proclaimed pastor Caiphus Mkhawane and his two wives, Ntsako Angel Makhubela and Amanda Manono Mnguni.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the allegations stem from an incident on 7 October 2026, when Mkhawane and Ntsako allegedly took the 43-year-old mother and her four-month-old baby girl to the Hennops River under the pretext of performing a spiritual cleansing ritual.
The mother reportedly trusted the pastor, whom she had known for almost four years. She had previously approached him for help and believed he could assist her and her children.
But prosecutors allege that the journey to the river ended in a horrifying ordeal.
According to the State’s account, when they arrived near the river, the mother was instructed to undress and was tied up. Ntsako allegedly washed her with water from a bucket before the pastor took the mother towards the river, leaving the baby with his wife.
At the river, Mkhawane allegedly washed the woman again before ra**ng her.
The allegations become even more disturbing.
The State alleges that after the r**e, the pastor went back to collect the baby from Ntsako. The two then allegedly went into nearby bushes, where the four-month-old child was killed.
The mother reportedly managed to escape and seek help from construction workers in the area, who assisted in contacting the police.
The baby’s body was later discovered in a shallow grave near the Hennops River.
Investigators also uncovered another disturbing allegation: several funeral policies had allegedly been taken out in the mother’s name before the incident. The State is pursuing fraud and conspiracy-to-commit-murder charges in connection with the case.
Ntsako was arrested on the day of the incident after the mother identified her, while Amanda was also arrested later that day. Mkhawane reportedly went into hiding before being arrested in Diepsloot on 10 October.
The case has raised serious questions about the alleged abuse of trust, particularly where vulnerable people turn to individuals claiming to offer spiritual guidance and assistance.
THREE ACCUSED, MULTIPLE CHARGES
Mkhawane and Ntsako face charges including premeditated murder, r**e, two counts of kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances and human trafficking. Both also face fraud and conspiracy-to-commit-murder charges.
Amanda, the pastor’s first wife, is currently charged with fraud and conspiracy to commit murder.
During their court appearance on 16 October, Mkhawane and Amanda reportedly abandoned their bail applications, while Ntsako was consulting her lawyer about whether to apply for bail. The case was postponed to 23 October.
A MOTHER LEFT TRAUMATISED
As the legal process continues, the mother is struggling to cope with the loss of her baby and the alleged sexual assault.
She says she is battling to sleep at night and no longer feels safe in Diepsloot. Her baby was laid to rest on 14 October in Olievenhoutbosch, Tshwane.
The grieving mother says she wants justice and hopes the accused will be denied bail.
Family friends and community organisations have also expressed outrage, calling for accountability and greater support for the mother and her surviving children.
The tragedy has sparked renewed concerns about the safety of women and children, the vulnerability of people seeking help, and the need to protect communities from anyone who allegedly exploits their trust.
A place where people seek comfort and spiritual guidance should never become a place of fear.
What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking case? Should people claiming to be spiritual leaders face greater scrutiny to protect vulnerable families?
Please remember that these are allegations before the court. The accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
