By Anita Dangazele
- A Kariega mother says she insures poor people for funeral cover and keeps part of the payout when they die.
- Police say the Eastern Cape is the centre for insurance murders, with 62 cases in Nelson Mandela Bay under investigation.
A mother from Kariega says she takes out insurance on poor people and claims part of the payout when they die.
She says the idea came from a friend who puts money aside for insurance cover on people without close family to help with funeral costs.
“You know those ones who always drink their money and have no close relatives,” she said.
She says she contributes part of the money towards the funeral and keeps the rest.
“I don’t see this as a bad thing because it means that I get to do something good for someone,” she said.
She also believes the practice is common in her area. “It only becomes a problem when you kill people for insurance money,” she said.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says Nelson Mandela Bay currently has the highest number of insurance-related killings under investigation pool .
“The Eastern Cape is the epicentre for insurance murders, and we’ve been investigating 62 cases in Nelson Mandela Bay alone,” Mathe said.
Police have uncovered a criminal group in Kariega linked to 18 murder cases. The group has 11 members. Two are already in prison and police are preparing to arrest the others.
Investigators have also identified three suspects. One is linked to six murder cases in Motherwell. A second is linked to 14 murders in KwaNobuhle, Motherwell and Kwadwesi. A third is linked to eight murders in New Brighton, Kwazakhele, Middledrift and Tshungwa.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana says a special Murder for Money Task Team was formed in January 2025. It was given 165 cases, and after a review with the South African Insurance Crime Bureau, the team now focuses on 62.
Pictured above: Nelson Mandela Bay.
Image source: Eastern Cape Info
