Woman on Trial for Alleged Insurance Murder Plot Worth R1.2 Million

A North West woman is facing trial for allegedly orchestrating the murder of her relative in a bid to claim a R1.2 million life insurance payout. The state alleges that Mathabo Motsieloa, a mineworker from Brits, twice attempted to poison Gift Mokati in March 2021. When both attempts failed, she allegedly hired a hitman to kill him.

The indictment details how Motsieloa lured Mokati from Lesotho to South Africa under the pretense of helping him find employment. She then fraudulently obtained a South African ID for him before secretly taking out a life insurance policy in his name.

According to the prosecution, after poisoning attempts failed, Motsieloa arranged for Mokati to be fatally stabbed on March 28, 2021, at a house belonging to one of her accomplices. Following his murder, she had his body cremated and allegedly placed bricks in his coffin for burial. The plot was exposed before the funeral could take place.

After receiving the R1.2 million payout from Old Mutual, Motsieloa is accused of bribing the investigating officer, Motsumi Tabane, with R30,000 to ensure her involvement in the crime was never uncovered. The prosecution further alleges that when Tabane’s superior, Lekone Mohajane, refused to drop the case, Motsieloa and Tabane conspired to have him killed. Mohajane was murdered in an apparent hijacking in June 2023.

Motsieloa, Tabane, and the alleged hitman, Hope Mahatta, are now standing trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. They face multiple charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Mahatta, a Malawian national, is also charged with being in the country illegally.

During court proceedings, Motsieloa’s aunt, who had previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in the crime, testified as a state witness. She detailed how Motsieloa took Mokati to a tavern in Ledig, near Sun City, where she allegedly poisoned his beer. Mokati fell ill but later recovered.

Three days later, the aunt said they visited a traditional healer who helped them find a hitman. Motsieloa reportedly justified her actions by saying she feared Mokati would expose the fraudulent documents she had obtained for him.

Court documents reveal that Mahatta and another yet-to-be-identified hitman carried out the fatal stabbing in a darkened house after breaking the lightbulb.

The state alleges that after Mokati’s murder, Tabane—who had developed a romantic relationship with Motsieloa—initially closed the case, citing a lack of suspects. However, when Mohajane refused to do the same, the pair allegedly plotted his murder. A former accomplice has since turned state witness, shedding light on the conspiracy.

According to the prosecution, Mohajane died from severe head and chest injuries caused by blunt force trauma.

The trial has brought renewed attention to the growing trend of insurance-related murders in South Africa. In December, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that at least 67 murder cases in the Eastern Cape between 2020 and 2024 were linked to life insurance policies.

The state has lined up 54 witnesses, including forensic experts, police officers, mortuary staff, and representatives from Old Mutual, to testify against the accused.

The trial continues.

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