By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Polokwane Magistrate’s Court has denied Rachel Kutumela and her two co-accused bail, for insurance-related killings on Wednesday.
The former cop, her sister Annah Shokane, and her daughter Flora Shokane appeared in court on Tuesday for a formal bail application.
They are facing 32 counts of murder, money laundering, defeating the ends of justice and insurance fraud.
The trio initially abandoned their bail application last year after Rachel Kutumela took a stand in cross-examination for the first application.
It is alleged that Rachel and Annah cashed out funeral insurance policies for multiple people.
Various service providers, including ABSA, Standard Bank, Capitec, and Old Mutual, made the payouts worth an estimated R10 million.
Magistrate Godfrey Netshiozwi told the court that although the leading investigator has not shared the names of the state witnesses, they might be known to the accused.
He explained that the accused’s release on bail might pose a threat to the witnesses.
“The bigger portion of the money claimed from the insurance company or the banks was never used for burial purposes; instead, it was used to benefit the applicants,” Netshiozwi said. “Applicant number one in this matter is a qualified police officer, and she knows that for the case to have a conviction, witnesses will have to testify.”
The matter has been postponed until November 4, 2025, for further investigation.