By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A 43-year old police officer Sergeant Rachel Kutumela, who is accused of the murders of her relatives for insurance payout, is applying for bail at the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court.
Kutumela appeared in the court alongside her elder sister, 47-year-old Annah Shokane, and 23-year-old daughter, Madjadji Flora Shokane.
She faces six counts of premeditated murder, 12 counts of fraud and defeating the ends of justice.
The state is opposing bail against the accused and her two co-accused.
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.
During the proceedings, Kutumela went on to disclose her relationship with the six victims.
She described her uncle, Chosi, as a man who lived hand-to-mouth and lacked the means to support himself.
As a result, he became her mother’s responsibility. This compelled her to step in to ensure he would have a dignified burial in the event of his death.
“Growing up, we saw my uncle’s relationship with my mother as one where he appeared almost like her firstborn child. They were always together. I don’t recall him ever having a wife. He survived by doing odd jobs, drank any alcohol he could find, and smoked anything available, from cigarettes to dagga,” Kutumela told the court.
Kutumela said it was her daughter (accused number 3) who informed her about her uncle’s death.
“On the day he died, I received a call from my daughter. She told me that my mother received a call from the police informing her that someone was found dead on the road next to a shop,” Kutumela said.
Kutumela had taken out at least three funeral policies on her uncle. However, the Standard Bank policy only paid out after the funeral.
She testified that she knew Jacob Petrus Seakamela as the boyfriend of her sister (the daughter of her aunt) and denied having opened or received insurance payouts upon his death.
She further told the court that she did not know Phuti Martin Mothata and as such did not plan his death nor receive insurance payouts upon his death.
Kutumela said, Joyce Tsela Malesa, who tragically died after her shack went up in flames, was her aunt.
Navel Kutumela was the younger brother of her husband, who was tragically knocked down by a car.
Kutumela also told the court that around March 2020, after claiming monies from one of her policies, she transferred an amount of about R500 000 to her sister on the same day to purchase two cars, a Range Rover and a Land Cruiser.
Prosecutor Advocate Kgaugelo Lekoloane said, Kutumela covered funeral costs for most of the accused and enriched herself.
“The state had found that all the people that you benefited from were all vulnerable. It was a pattern and all of them would die mysteriously. Some of them would be burnt and some would be involved in car accidents. Why is it that you are the only one who seems to have benefited from all three insurance claims. You also would transfer a huge amount of money to accused three whenever you would receive money from the insurance, said Lekoloane.
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.