Police Captain Keshi Mabunda, the renowned Gauteng-based officer who made headlines for solving the high-profile insurance fraud case involving convicted murderer Rosemary Ndlovu, has been assigned to Nelson Mandela Bay.
Mabunda, who is leading investigations into life insurance-related murders, will soon be in the Metro to address the alarming rise in insurance killings, which has already led to several arrests in the city.
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola announced this on Friday at a community engagement session at the Soweto-on-Sea Multipurpose Centre.
Police minister Senzo Mchunu was also in attendance.
Masemola said he acknowledged that the Metro had a high crime rate, including its murder rate.
He said before people criticised crime statistics, it was important to recognise that SA was the only country that published crime rates every quarter, unlike many other nations.
“Here in Nelson Mandela Bay, we’re sending Mabunda, responsible for the Rosemary [Ndlovu] investigation.
“He will come down here, investigate cases and those of you who have insured people, we will find out who you are.
“We’re going to the insurance companies and Mabunda is going to stay here for quite a long time until all the investigations are concluded.”
Ndlovu, a convicted serial killer and former policewoman, murdered her live-in lover and five of her relatives between 2012 and 2018.
She was found to have taken out life insurance policies on her targets and collected as much as R1.4m in payouts after their deaths.
Ndlovu received six life sentences for the murders, 10 years each on four counts of fraud, 10 years each for seven charges of incitement to commit murder and 10 years for attempting to murder her mother, Maria Mushawana.
Meanwhile, investigators in the Bay have linked several hit-style murders that have rocked the city to insurance-related killings.
The most recent being the murder of doctor Bantu Noqekwa, who was shot dead inside his Zwide clinic on May 3 2023.
Out of six suspects in the case, two have been linked to a string of murders related to life insurance policy payouts
Noqekwa’s ex-wife, Nothukela Ethel Mphahlwa-Noqekwa, was arrested on June 6 2023 and charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murder, among other counts.
In a separate incident, Siyabulela Mbane, Ntombeko Msome, Xolelwa Gqirana Msome, Monelwa Gwane, Unathi Peter, Luxolo Mjadu and Phumelele Mongo were arrested in the metro in September 2023.
They are alleged to have orchestrated at least 13 murders across the province, involving a total of R3.7m in fraudulent life insurance policy claims.
The alleged criminal network was uncovered after Mbane and Mongo were allegedly linked to the murder of Aphiwe Gudula in Whittlesea in August 2022.
Taking the microphone, Mchunu said the police could not deny crime remained one of the most pressing issues in the city.
Mchunu told residents that taking out insurance on someone’s life was not a business.
“Let’s stop insuring people and killing them.
“Insuring people is not a business. It is criminal.”
HeraldLIVE
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