JOHANNESBURG - Police say they are seeing a disturbing trend in which individuals and syndicates go to extreme lengths to access wealth, including taking out life and funeral insurance policies and, in some cases, orchestrating the deaths of the policyholders.
"For the love of money, family members will plot your death," says SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe.
Recent arrests in Polokwane
Six people were arrested in Polokwane on Tuesday in connection with an insurance fraud case involving former police sergeant Rachel Kutumela.
They are charged in connection with killing family members for a R10-million insurance payout.
Kutumela, her sister Anna Shokane, and niece Flora Shokane face six murder charges, 17 counts of fraud, a money laundering charge, and defeating the ends of justice. Kutumela’s brother, Leshweng Shokane, was later arrested.
Past insurance-related murders
In 2023, Agnes Setshwantsho was arrested in Mahikeng for allegedly killing family members to make insurance claims. She is accused of killing her son (July 2023), husband (2016), and two daughters (2015 and 2005), allegedly insuring 40 extended family members across multiple companies.
In Cape Town, siblings Linda Mbele and Sindiswa Mbele were arrested after allegedly orchestrating a fraudulent funeral policy for actor David Manuel, who was killed outside his Gugulethu home in October.
His friend Alfonso Fisher was also killed. Authorities said the Mbele siblings had altered policies four days before Manuel’s death and claimed R110,000 from a policy despite not being related to him.
Disgraced police officer Rosemary Ndlovu is serving six life sentences for orchestrating the murders of loved ones to collect insurance payouts.
Investigation expands nationwide
Mathe says the SAPS is widening its investigations across South Africa. In the Eastern Cape, police are probing 62 insurance fraud cases.
“In one syndicate, we identified 11 members linked to 18 murders. Two members were previously arrested for unrelated matters, and police are finalising the investigation,” Mathe said.
These syndicates operate in Motherwell, New Brighton, KwaNobuhle, and KwaDesi. One individual has been linked to 14 cases, another to six murders, and a third to eight cases.
According to Mathe, perpetrators often target vulnerable individuals, gaining their trust to access IDs and personal documents.
"We urge communities to be cautious with personal information," she said.
"Family members can plan your death for the love of money."
Preferred insurance policies
Mathe explained that accidental death policies are often targeted because they do not require waiting periods and provide immediate coverage.
“Perpetrators often list the victim as the main member and themselves as the spouse. This allows them to collect double payments if the victim dies ‘accidentally’,” she said.
Polokwane case update
Police are still searching for one more suspect following Tuesday’s arrests.
During the operation, Kutumela’s husband, two brothers, a sangoma, and another relative were also arrested.
Authorities believe the Polokwane fraud affected 10 victims, with many more lives potentially saved thanks to Kutumela’s arrest.