Gauteng Premier Condemns Atteridgeville Baby Murder, Mother's Alleged Rape

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has condemned the kidnapping and death of a four-month-old baby and the alleged rape of the baby's mother in Atteridgeville. This after police launched a manhunt for a man following the alleged rape of a 43-year-old woman and the murder of her baby. The body of the baby was discovered in a shallow grave on Wednesday. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn "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. "We fully support the South African Police Service in their investigation. Those responsible must face the full force of the law. Anyone with information that can help locate the suspect should contact the police immediately," Lesufi said. According to reports, a pastor and his wife allegedly lured a woman to the Hennops River under the pretext of performing a ritual. "While the pastor's wife stayed behind with the baby, the pastor and the victim walked toward the river, where she was reportedly tied up and assaulted. Police have since arrested the pastor's wife, and the pastor, who is the main suspect, remains at large, as officers search the crime scene, surrounding areas, and a nearby river," the provincial government explained in a statement. According to the statement, authorities were alerted by Department of Roads and Transport maintenance and construction teams, who saw suspicious activities and reported it. The victim had also managed to free herself and seek help. "Their quick thinking and decision to alert the authorities made a critical difference, enabling the Office of the Premier to mobilise law enforcement resources, including a helicopter search. "This cruel and senseless crime, like other recent attacks on women and children, strengthens the province's determination to ensure perpetrators face the full force of the law. "The provincial government will continue using every available resource and working closely with the South African Police Service and communities, until GBVF [gender-based violence and femicide] is wiped out from our society," the statement said. Read the original article on SAnews.gov.za . AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us . AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 600 news and information items daily from over 90 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy . We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.