Pretoria – A woman has been arrested for an alleged insurance scam that involved the murder of her relatives.
South African Police Service’s (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe on Thursday said an intelligence operation led to the arrest of a 49-year-old woman on suspicion that she murdered her relatives to benefit from insurance claims.
“The suspect was traced to and arrested in Centurion this morning during a takedown operation led by the SAPS in collaboration and full cooperation with an insurance company,” said Brigadier Mathe.
“For the past two months, Sergeant Keshi Mabunda and a team of detectives have been working on this case following a tip-off from relatives of this suspect.”
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said Sergeant Mabunda was roped in to kick-start investigations due to his expertise in solving similar cases.
“Through analysis and collection of evidence including the exhumation of a body, the team was able to link its latest suspect to the team’s first focus of the case,” said Brigadier Mathe. The suspect will now appear on a charge of murder before the Mmabatho Magistrate Court on Friday, 17 November 2023.
Brigadier Mathe said a death that was initially ruled a “natural death” happened in Mmabatho in the North West, where a female relative died under mysterious circumstances in March 2023.
“Investigations have revealed that the suspect fraudulently took out insurance on behalf of her relative, before her death, which is now considered a murder,” said Brigadier Mathe.
“The team is also investigating the deaths of the suspect’s son who died in July 2023, her husband who died in 2016, and her two daughters who died in 2015 and 2005.
“The suspect has according to investigations pocketed large amounts of money throughout her activities.”
Brigadier Mathe said the SAPS takes this opportunity to urge insurance companies and families to be extra vigilant to such criminal activities.
They are encouraged to report such criminality to the CRIME STOP NUMBER ON 0860010111 or their nearest police station where they will be assigned to a detective.
Brigadier Mathe said callers and whistle-blowers were reminded that all information will be treated with confidentiality.
