By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A 43-year old police officer Sergeant Rachel Kutumela, who is accused of the murders of her relatives for insurance payout and co-accused have abandoned their bail bid.
Kutumela appeared in the court alongside her elder sister, 47-year-old Annah Shokane, and 23-year-old daughter, Madjadji Flora Shokane.
Kutumela and her co-accused are charged with murder, fraud, money laundering, and hindering justice.
She allegedly claimed R10 million in insurance payouts for the deaths of six people she purportedly insured fraudulently since 2019.
During the proceedings, “Defence said on Friday that the clients had submitted an application to withdraw their bail bid.”
“We have an application to submit that we are abandoning the bail application with the good court. May the court accept our application in respect to all the accused,” said their defence lawyer.
The case has been postponed to 7 February 2025 for the state to complete its investigations.
The State has accused Kutumela of killing Sydney Noko Montja, Joyce Tsela Malesa, Navel Kutumela, Maphari Ephraim Chosi, Jacob Petrus Seakamela and Phuthi Martin Mothata between 2019 and 2024.
The alleged insurance killer is accused of taking out funeral and life insurance policies on several family members for her benefit.
Kutumela pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
In 2021, South Africans were captivated by a similar case where former police officer Rosemary Ndlovu was sentenced to life in prison for murdering five relatives and a boyfriend to cash in on insurance claims.
South Africa, a country of 62 million, recorded 12,734 homicides in the first six months of this year, according to official crime statistics from the police. That’s an average of more than 70 a day.