By JOHANNESBURG — Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has issued a scathing condemnation following a horrific incident in Atteridgeville that left a four-month-old baby dead and a mother brutally violated.
The provincial government has expressed absolute outrage over the tragedy, which has sent shockwaves through local communities and intensified calls for stronger action against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
A Lured Attack and Tragic Outcome
According to preliminary reports released by the Gauteng Provincial Government, the nightmare began when a local pastor and his wife lured an unsuspecting woman to the Hennops River, near the R511 road, under the false pretence of performing a religious ritual.
While the pastor’s wife allegedly stayed behind with the four-month-old infant, the pastor marched the victim toward the river. There, she was reportedly tied up and viciously assaulted.
Law enforcement agencies have already apprehended the pastor’s wife in connection with the crime. However, the primary suspect—the pastor—remains at large, prompting an intensive manhunt across the surrounding areas, the crime scene, and the nearby riverbanks.
Quick-Thinking Roads and Transport Teams Intervene
The tragedy might have gone completely unnoticed or unassisted were it not for the vigilance of frontline public servants. Department of Roads and Transport maintenance and construction teams were performing their routine duties when they spotted suspicious activity involving a man who appeared to have abducted a woman and her baby.
Thanks to their swift decision to alert authorities, the Office of the Premier was able to rapidly mobilize law enforcement resources, including a specialized helicopter search. Provincial leadership has officially commended and thanked these workers for their life-saving alertness.
Premier Lesufi Demands Justice
Expressing profound grief and fury, Premier Lesufi did not mince words regarding the atrocity.
“We condemn this savage act of barbarism that has taken an infant from a family, violated an innocent woman, and caused deep pain and anxiety to the family and the entire community. I offer my sincere condolences to the mother and family; no parent should ever face such trauma,” said Premier Lesufi.
The Premier affirmed the provincial administration’s total backing of the South African Police Service (SAPS) as they work to track down the fugitive pastor. “Those responsible must face the full force of the law,” Lesufi added, while urging anyone possessing critical information to come forward and contact the police immediately.
A Renewed Pledge Against GBVF
This latest incident underscores an ongoing, grim reality for vulnerable populations across South Africa. The Gauteng Provincial Government emphasized that such cruel and senseless crimes only harden the state’s resolve to dismantle networks of abuse.
Authorities have pledged to deploy every resource at their disposal, maintaining close cooperation with SAPS and local communities, until gender-based violence and femicide are entirely eradicated from society.
