Part Six: Editor-at-large Everson Luhanga meets the investigators at the heart of the battle against life insurance fraud in South Africa.
Watch the video above to meet the ex-cops turned fraud-busters — and see how they’re taking on the deadly syndicates exploiting South Africa’s life insurance system.
Elton Nkomo, a seasoned private investigator specialising in insurance fraud, has seen the darkest side of the life insurance industry.
He has dedicated his career to uncovering the loopholes that criminals exploit.
Nkomo explains that fierce competition among insurance companies has led to lax measures in their pursuit of clients, creating the perfect environment for fraudsters.
“Signing up for a life insurance policy is as easy as picking up a phone and calling a consultant,” Nkomo explains. “All they need is an identity number or date of birth for the person being insured.”
This ease of access means that if a stranger gets hold of your date of birth, they can set up a funeral policy in your name—and profit from your death.
Now the owner and chief forensic investigator of Abalandi Risk Management, Nkomo previously worked as a police detective, investigating serious crimes like armed robberies, murders, and hijackings. After eight years, he resigned from the force in 2010 and later founded his firm in Midrand, Johannesburg.
Over the past nine years, his firm has uncovered numerous cases, handing them over to the police for further investigation. Nkomo has been involved in high-profile cases like the murder of Dumisile Khumalo and helped Amos Mbongiseni Zulu reclaim his life after a fraudster faked his death.
“The people who commit funeral policy fraud target the poorest of the poor and the homeless,” Nkomo explains. “They make money by either killing them or using their identity documents to file false claims.”
He said that fraudsters thrive in rural areas like KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Free State, where funeral policy companies lack the resources to thoroughly investigate claims.
“Most companies don’t have the manpower, capacity, or resources to travel to these remote villages to investigate if they suspect a fraudulent claim,” he says.
“They do desktop and phone call investigations, quickly paying out any claim.”
Mlungisi Mhlangabezi Dlokweni is another investigator who transitioned from a career as a police detective to tackling insurance fraud. The owner of Dloks ‘n Dloks Risk Solutions, Dlokweni explains that corruption is at the heart of rampant insurance fraud.
“Fraudsters have connections within the police, mortuary officials, the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), and even professional doctors,” Dlokweni says.
“These syndicates are well-coordinated and connected with different service providers, both in government and the private sector, making it easy for them to claim millions of rands fraudulently.”
Nkomo and Dlokweni continue their fight against these syndicates, knowing that each case they uncover is a step towards justice in a deeply flawed system.
Scrolla.Africa is exposing South Africa’s deadly life insurance fraud industry in this eight-part series, inspired by Everson Luhanga’s explosive investigation into serial killer cop Rosemary Ndlovu. Missed it? Go read the full series now.
In part one, we reported that in South Africa, fraudsters easily create fake funeral policies, recruit corrupt officials, and even commit murder to claim payouts—all exploiting an industry with virtually no security checks
In part two, we reported on insurance fraud in South Africa. Everson Luhanga reported on the murder of Dumisile Khumalo, a young mother from Alexandra, in a chilling insurance scam.
In part three, we report on a wife’s chilling plot to murder her husband for life insurance money.
In part four, we exposed the case of Amos Mbongiseni Zulu — a pensioner declared dead by fraudsters who used his identity to cash in on a funeral policy, leaving him to live as a “dead man” in the eyes of the state.
In part five, we uncovered the black market for corpses — where fraudsters rent the dead, hire fake mourners, and exploit the nameless to cash in on funeral policies.
Pictured above: Elton Nkomo and Mlungisi Mhlangabezi Dlokweni.
