DURBAN - The widow of a Cato Ridge taxi boss was sentenced to 20 years in prison for premeditated murder and fraud at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday.
Jane Ziningi Nzama, 49, was accused of murdering her 20-year-old son, Asanda Nzama, in order to collect R1.5 million in insurance money.
Her co-accused, Mthokoziseni Majozi, 49, and Simphiwe Silangwe, 29, appeared with her at the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court for a bail application last month.
All three were charged with murder and fraud, but Majozi faces an additional charge of conspiracy to commit murder.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Nqobile Gwala said a man was found dead in a house in Inchanga on April 3, last year.
“A 20-year-old man was found inside a house in the Esikhelekehleni area in Inchanga with gunshot wounds to the head and body. He was declared dead at the scene.”
Two suspects, aged 29 and 49, were arrested for murder. The 49-year-old was Nzama, who, before her official appearance at the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court, was hospitalised after a suicide attempt.
The Daily News had previously reported that according to a source, the woman had allegedly been left unsupervised in a cell. When the officers checked on her, she was evidently foaming at the mouth and was taken to hospital.
“There are suspicions that she might have drunk pills or something prior to the arrest, to kill herself,” the source said.
The woman was placed under police guard.
In the bail application, Nzama pleaded guilty to all charges, while the two men elected to plead not guilty.
Prosecutor Ian Meyiwa read out the investigating officer’s affidavit, which revealed that Nzama had provided her son’s personal details to Silangwe, who then pretended to be Asanda when he took out a R1m life insurance policy a month before the murder.
Forensic investigations also discovered that Silangwe, who lives in Pietermaritzburg, was in the vicinity of the crime scene the night before Asanda was killed.
“When the first premium had to be deducted by the insurance company, it could not go through. But a day before Asanda’s murder, Silangwe allegedly made arrangements with 1Life Insurance to pay the premium in cash. The money was deposited at Pep,” the affidavit read.
Investigations showed that in one of the insurance policies taken out for Asanda, his mother was a beneficiary. Another policy was allegedly taken out in his name only a month before he died.
“Nzama was denied from making a claim on the phone on the basis of alleged fraud. She also took out other policies for her son a month before he was murdered. “Nzama was paid R49 000 from Old Mutual, R15 750 from FNB, and R26 995 from Finrite, while Icebolethu made funeral arrangements,” read the affidavit.
Nzama admitted to being in a relationship with Majozi, who was said to have not gotten along with the victim.
“Majozi allegedly took out R20 000 funeral cover for Asanda, who he claimed to be his nephew. He did not get along with Asanda, as the son was annoyed that Majozi would come over to Nzama’s home.
“Majozi had only paid for one insurance premium before claiming from the policy. Because the victim was killed, the insurance company paid R40 000 towards the funeral, which is normal,” the affidavit read.
The prosecution claimed that the three suspects had taken out insurance policies for people who might be in danger of being killed should they be granted bail.
Nzama and her co-accused were also alleged to be involved in the killing of her husband, “who was killed in the same way as Asanda”.
All the accused were denied bail.
The cases against the other two suspects were adjourned to February 24.
Daily News