Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has noted that murders are committed for illegal benefits from insurance fraud. Recently, a police sergeant was arrested in connection with allegations of insurance fraud. This 43-year-old woman targeted victims from disadvantaged background, with some being disabled or mentally challenged. She started her killing spree in 2019, benefiting from funeral, accidental and life policy covers from various banks and insurance companies, and she is currently linked to about six insurance related murders and evidence shows she has pocketed at least R10 million.

This is not an isolated case of murder perpetuated by a police officer for insurance fraud. In 2021, a serial killer and former policewoman, Nomia Rosemary Ndlovu was convicted in the deaths of six people, which included her live-in partner and five of her relatives, between 2012 and 2018. Ndlovu also committed those murders to live from their life and funeral insurance policies, and she collected R1.4 million at the time of her arrest. She was sentenced to six concurrent life terms for the murders and a total of thirty years.

Subsequently to the tragic Ndlovu murders, another serial killer was busted in November 2023, a 49-year-old woman was traced and arrested in Centurion, linked to her relative’s murder and who is suspected of killing four others to benefit from insurance pay-outs. Investigations revealed that the suspect fraudulently took out insurance on behalf of her relative, who died in mysterious circumstances. Police also investigated the deaths of the woman’s son in July this 2022, her husband, who died in 2016, and her two daughters, who died in 2015 and 2005, where she pocketed large amounts of money throughout her activities.

Many poor and vulnerable relatives furnish their IDs to those who are willing to pay monthly premiums to insurance companies on their behalf with trust and in anticipation that should something happen to them, at least someone would be able to provide a decent burial ceremony. It is such a shame that people have broken that trust and became extremely greedy and heartless to an extent that when they are beneficiaries to someone’s insurance cover, all they see is a walking jackpot.

This is seemingly a prevalent form of criminality. There have been few reported cases thus far, however there is a high possibility of many unnoticed and unreported similar cases. This new culture of insurance fraud poses a threat into many families and communities, and it needs to be uprooted before many people are murdered for greed.

It is an absolute disgrace that police officers are involved in such cruelty, when they are entrusted with a great responsibility to keep safety and security into our communities. Just like Ndlovu, this police officer must be sentenced to life and for all her murders. This must send a strong warning to all involved that the long arm of the law will not be tempered without serious consequences.

The UDM urges all insurance companies to be extra vigilant and put in place systems to dictate people who make claims and receive more than two large pay-outs in a short period of time, or frequently cashing in on funeral policies or insurance from relatives. They must investigate such cases, then alert law enforcement for further investigation, should there be anything suspicious.