KwaDukuza body left in bank: No court date for women as prosecutor requests more info

The two women arrested after a shocking incident where a deceased relative’s body was left in a Capitec branch in the KwaDukuza CBD have not appeared in court as the case was not placed on the court roll. 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the case was not enrolled in court and that the Senior Public Prosecutor has directed the South African Police Service (SAPS) to conduct further investigations into the incident that shocked the country.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, February 18, at the Capitec Bank Stanger branch on Chief Albert Luthuli Street.

The KwaDukuza police reported that the two women allegedly transported their grandmother's body to the bank using a funeral parlour vehicle as a radical form of protest over a pending funeral cover payout.

According to the police, the family held two funeral policies with the bank. While one had been paid out, the second was flagged for verification due to an “unclear funeral parlour stamp”.

The resulting disturbance led to the arrest of the two women on charges of extortion, intimidation and public disturbance. The body of the deceased was taken to the KwaDukuza mortuary.

Capitec issued a statement expressing deep sympathy for the family, acknowledging that losing a loved one is “one of life’s most painful experiences”.

The bank also defended its processes, noting that it processes approximately 13,000 claims a month and have paid out R5 billion in the past year.

“To process a claim, certain prescribed documentation is required. In this case, the claim was paid within 24 hours of receiving the complete and valid documentation,” the bank stated.

Capitec further clarified that while administrative requirements can feel overwhelming during moments of grief, they are essential to protect clients and ensure correct payouts. The bank confirmed it is cooperating with SAPS.

For more stories from The Mercury, click the link THE MERCURY