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Daughter, granddaughter accused of killing gran for R600k payout
A shocking murder-for-money case has rocked the Mpumalanga community, where three suspects—allegedly including a nurse and her daughter—stand accused of killing an 83-year-old woman and burning her house to stage an accidental death.
The trio, who appeared in the Acornhoek Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 15 April, allegedly strangled Mandenane Emmie Maunye before setting her home on fire. The motive, police say, was to claim a R600 000 life insurance policy.
Family accused of killing elderly woman for insurance payout and setting house on fire
A shocking murder-for-money case has rocked the Mpumalanga community, where three suspects—allegedly including a nurse and her daughter—stand accused of killing an 83-year-old woman and burning her house to stage an accidental death.
The trio, who appeared in the Acornhoek Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 15 April, allegedly strangled Mandenane Emmie Maunye before setting her home on fire. The motive, police say, was to claim a R600 000 life insurance policy.
Portia Moeng (40), a nurse working at a Gauteng hospital; her daughter Lebo Magopane (26); and Ps Polite Thapelo Khoza (25) were remanded in custody. Their bail hearing was postponed to next week due to their late arrival in court.
The case relates to the death of 83-year-old Mandenane Emmie Maunye, who was allegedly strangled on 7 March at her home in Buffelshoek near Acornhoek, before the house was set alight. Investigators believe the fire was meant to disguise the murder as an accident and secure a R600 000 insurance payout.
Alleged murder plot uncovered after separate crime
While Magopane and Khoza were arrested earlier, Moeng was taken into custody on 10 April at Rob Ferreira Hospital, where she was being treated for an undisclosed illness. Magopane and Khoza first appeared in court on 11 April, with Moeng appearing a day later.
The investigation took a turn when Khoza, already in custody for an unrelated robbery and kidnapping incident in Mbombela, allegedly confessed to Maunye’s murder. He reportedly told police he, Moeng, and Magopane planned and executed the killing before setting the house on fire.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said it is unclear whether Maunye’s body will be exhumed as the remains were badly burnt. “That is a possibility that cannot immediately be confirmed. The court will make a ruling depending on the outcome of the investigation,” he said.
A nephew of the deceased, speaking anonymously, expressed disbelief at the allegations. “They were crying the loudest at the funeral. Now we hear it might have been crocodile tears,” he said.
According to the nephew, both Magopane and Moeng attended Maunye’s funeral on 8 March—just a day after the alleged murder. The revelation has shocked the community and raised further concerns about the motivation behind the brutal killing.
The trio will return to court on 22 and 23 April for the bail application.
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Sourced:Mpumalanga News
