Man held in connection with corpse on pastor's property

Captain Thulani Zwane said a 23-year-old man was arrested on Thursday and was expected to appear in the Pongola Magistrate's Court.

 

"He is facing kidnapping and murder charges. He was also linked to another kidnapping and assault where a five-year-old boy was kidnapped in the same area in June 2014," said Zwane.

 

He said the pastor who was earlier held after the corpse was found at his church was in hospital.

 

"The priest was found in the boot of his car on Friday. We do not have further details, police are waiting for him to recover so we can get the details," said Zwane.

 

He said more details were not available.

 

On July 15, the pastor was released and at the time police said no arrest were made.

 

The pastor was held by police following the discovery of the remains of a missing four-year-old at his church on June 6.

 

The remains of Kiki Ntuli were found in a plastic bag on the church premises.

 

Forensic specialists who probed the 51-year-old pastor's property found more bones on July 11. Police also discovered a skull and skeleton at a woman's house in Ncotshane.

 

Police said it was unclear whether those bones were linked to the Ntuli case or whether they were those of a human being.

 

The bones were taken for forensic testing.

 

A few days after the boy's corpse were found, angry Pongola residents went on the rampage and torched the pastor's church and woman's house.

 

Fifteen people were arrested on charges of violence and were scheduled to appear in the Ncotshane Magistrate's Court. The court, however, was petrol-bombed.

 

The group finally appeared in the Pongola Magistrate's Court on Friday where they were released on a warning. Their case was postponed to July 28.

 

(File photo: Gallo Images)