Life in Prison for Mother Who Murdered 14-Year-Old Daughter to Cash Out Insurance Policies
A 43-year-old woman from KwaMashu will spend the rest of her life behind bars after the Ntuzuma Regional Court found her guilty of murdering her 14-year-old daughter in a calculated attempt to benefit from multiple life insurance policies.
Also Read: Home Affairs Official Arrested For Faking Death Certificates For Insurance Payouts
Insurance Payout Scheme Uncovered
What initially appeared to be a tragic household accident quickly unravelled into a chilling case of premeditated murder.
The mother had told police that her daughter went to bed with a headache and medication, only for her to allegedly fall from the bed during the night. She claimed she discovered the teenager unresponsive and lying in blood the next morning.
However, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the investigation took a dramatic turn after the post-mortem report contradicted her version.
Evidence Points to Deliberate Killing
According to NPA regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, the pathologist ruled that the child’s injuries did not match the “fall from the bed” explanation. Police interviews also revealed that neighbours heard the girl begging for her life hours before her death.
Detectives later established that the mother had taken out several life insurance policies in the child’s name and had contacted policy consultants shortly before the killing to confirm payout amounts and the claim process.
This evidence led to the mother’s arrest.
Accused Tries to Plead Guilty — Court Rejects It
During the trial, the woman attempted to plead guilty in terms of Section 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act, but the presiding magistrate rejected the plea due to inconsistencies and entered a not-guilty plea instead.
She later made formal admissions under Section 220, acknowledging that she intentionally killed her daughter to claim insurance benefits. This, together with the overwhelming evidence, resulted in a murder conviction.
Heartbreaking Testimony from the Father
Prosecutor Sbongiseni Goodenough Mtetwa called the victim’s father to testify during sentencing. He told the court that the girl was his only child and that he solely supported her education and daily needs. His emotional testimony was considered an aggravating factor.
Life Sentence Handed Down
The court sentenced the mother to life imprisonment and declared her unfit to own a firearm.