A Gauteng pastor accused of orchestrating the brutal murder of his sister-in-law has gone into hiding after failing to appear in court to stand trial, prompting the issuing of a warrant for his arrest.
Kennedy Bonginkosi Mndau, 43, leader of the Apostolic Kingdom Hub in Heidelberg, was expected to stand trial in the Pretoria High Court sitting at the Benoni Magistrate’s Court last week. However, he failed to appear.
Mndau is facing charges of house robbery, kidnapping, carjacking and murder in connection with the killing of Bongiwe Skhosana in June 2023.
A warrant for his arrest has since been issued.
His co-accused is his 23-year-old stepdaughter, Hope Skhosana, the daughter of his late wife, Phumelele. Hope is also the niece of the deceased.
Both Mndau and Hope were previously served with summons to appear before the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court, where they were formally charged with murder and kidnapping.
On 8 June, the pair were expected to appear for trial proceedings, but Mndau did not pitch. At the time of his disappearance, he was out on free bail.
Magistrate Cornelius Van der Westhuizen has postponed the matter to January to allow police time to locate Mndau.
Allegations of a calculated plot
According to information shared with Sowetan by a source familiar with the case, the events leading to Bongiwe’s death began on 11 June 2023, when three suspects allegedly entered her home and ransacked it after failing to find her there.
A few days later, Hope allegedly informed the same individuals that Bongiwe was at home.
“The suspects then kidnapped Bongiwe and, according to them, they took her to a veld where they met with Mndau.
“They also alleged that Mndau wanted them to kill her and that is when a fight broke out. The three guys allege that they left the scene, and at the time, Bongiwe was still alive,” the source told Sowetan.
The three suspects were later apprehended after fingerprints left on Bongiwe’s car linked them to the crime.
In November 2025, they confessed and entered into a plea bargain agreement with the State. They were each sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for robbery and kidnapping.
Subsequently, Mndau and Hope were formally charged and summoned to court in connection with Bongiwe’s murder.
Family demands answers
Bongiwe’s family has expressed outrage and disappointment over Mndau’s failure to appear in court, saying his disappearance is delaying their search for the truth.
Speaking to Sowetan, Bongiwe’s brother, Thokozani Skhosana, said the family had been shocked when they learnt that Mndau was implicated in the murder.
“We were shocked [that Mndau is the accused] because we saw our sister, and you could tell that she was tortured to death or beaten to death,” he said.
“We are actually disappointed that he has now run away because we wanted to find out [through court proceedings] what did [Bongiwe] do for him to kill her like that brutally. More than that, he claimed to be a pastor but has managed to do such a thing. No, he must be found and explain to us what really happened.”
The killing came just two weeks after the Skhosana family had buried their other daughter, Phumelele Mndau, who was married to Mndau.
Skhosana said the timing of Bongiwe’s death compounded the family’s grief.
Strained family ties
Reflecting on the family’s relationship with Mndau, Skhosana described it as largely civil, though not without tension.
“I just don’t remember the year but there was a time when there was a confrontation between my parents and my sister Phumelele.
“My sister and Mndau had financial crises, and my parents had offered to help with a place to stay. Mndau refused and said that he will not stay at his in-laws’ place as a man.
“He then influenced my sister to believe that my parents do not love him,” Skhosana said.
He added that for a period, the couple distanced themselves from his parents due to the allegations made by Mndau.
After Phumelele’s death, the family once again offered Mndau a place to stay. However, on the day they had arranged to fetch him, he allegedly changed his mind, saying someone else had offered him assistance.
Now, with Mndau nowhere to be found, the Skhosana family says they are left in limbo, waiting for justice and clarity.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi has appealed to members of the public to assist in locating the fugitive pastor.
Anyone with information on Mndau’s whereabouts is urged to contact Colonel Hlongwane of the Heidelberg detectives on 082-319-9378 or the Crime Stop Line on 08600-10111.
As investigators intensify their search, the case remains postponed until January, when authorities hope Mndau will be in custody and the long-delayed trial can finally proceed.
