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"A police investigation has uncovered that the priest planned to have his business partner killed after he asked the man to accompany him to a prayer session next to a stream in Doornkop," said police spokesperson Kay Makhubela.
The priest asked his business partner to accompany him to Doornkop to pray with him on Monday.
While they were praying, four men arrived and encircled them, Makhubela said.
The men grabbed the business partner, and demanded that he give them a pin number for a bank account.
"They then attacked him, killed him and buried him in a shallow grave next to the stream," Makhubela said.
The attackers left the scene with the man's car. The vehicle was stripped at a "chop shop".
"Police traced the vehicle through a tracker after the owner was reported missing. The chop shop owner told them four men brought in the car and had indicated that they would return to collect the money."
Police waited for the men on Wednesday and when two of them arrived they were arrested.
The two men took the police to the stream and allegedly pointed out the grave where the deceased was buried.
"Upon questioning by the police, the priest told investigators that his business partner disappeared and was taken by a snake while they were praying... the priest has since vanished," Makhubela said.
The two men, aged 22 and 33, have been charged with murder and car theft.
"Investigators are looking for the priest and the other two alleged attackers," said Makhubela.
The two men were expected to appear in the Protea Magistrate's Court soon.
