Five suspects, including a school principal, two siblings, their cousin and a traditional healer, are expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo on Wednesday morning in connection with an insurance-related murder case.
The arrests form part of an ongoing investigation linked to former police sergeant Rachel Kutumela, who was arrested in October 2024 while on duty.
Police believe the suspects were involved in a scheme in which life and funeral insurance policies were taken out on at least 10 victims who were later murdered in order to claim insurance payouts.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the arrests send a strong message to those involved in similar criminal schemes.
“No matter how long it takes, police will find you and they will make you answer to crimes committed,” said Mathe.
She added that investigators are currently working on 62 active cases that have been linked to insurance payout-related crimes.
Mathe also said police are not ruling out the possibility that the scheme may be operating in other provinces.
“We have a dedicated team that is working on 62 active investigations that have been positively linked to the insurance payouts. We are also building capacity, and we have a team in the Eastern Cape that is dedicated to investigating such cases,” she said.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to dismantle the criminal network behind the killings.
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