Four people will appear in court in Geberha, where they face 17 charges for alleged murders related to insurance payments

• Four people, including a relative of the victims, appeared in court in Gqeberha on 17 charges related to the alleged insurance murders.
• It is the latest insurance fraud scheme to hit the community following a case involving Limpopo policewoman Rachel Shokane.
• The four accused, Siphokazi Mabutho, Siphamandla Matsha, Ayanda Yekela and Andisiwe Zondani, withdrew their bail applications.

GKEBERHA – Four people appeared at Motherwell Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 23 October 2024 charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with an insurance fraud.

The group is linked to a life insurance payout scheme that has rocked the Motherwell community.

4 Stand trial for insurance murders

South Africa has recently come under the spotlight on a spate of murders linked to insurance fraud, most notably the case of Limpopo police sergeant Rachel Shokane and her two relatives.

Siphokazi Mabutho, 27, Siphamandla Matsha, 29, Ayanda Yekela, 29, and Andisiwa Zondani, 32, face six counts of conspiracy to commit murder, five counts of attempted murder and two counts of murder.

The charges of multiple counts of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition bring the total to 17 counts.

On April 17, Mabutho allegedly assaulted her aunt Kholelwa, a municipal employee who named her as the beneficiary of a life and funeral insurance policy.

Holelwa and her brother Thando were injured during the shooting at the family’s Motherwell home.

After recovering, Mabutho asked her boyfriend Sicelo Manyashe to bring his sister Thembakazi to take care of Holelwa, who was left permanently blinded by the attack.

Nearly six months later, on October 9, a second shooting occurred at the house while six people were sitting inside.

Manyashe and one of Kholelwa’s relatives were killed.

Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesman Luxolo Tyali said police investigations pointed to insurance payments and inheritance as motives for the attacks.

“During their appearance in court, all four accused withdrew their bail pleas. The case has been adjourned to November 25 for further investigation,” Tyali said.

Source: Brief news