Life sentence for KwaMashu mother who killed 14-year-old to claim insurance

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Ntuzuma Regional Court this week sentenced a 43-year-old woman from KwaMashu to life imprisonment after she was found guilty of murdering her 14-year-old daughter in a bid to benefit from life-insurance policies.

The National Prosecuting Authority reported that the murder took place in July 2024. The mother had initially told police that her daughter had gone to bed complaining of a headache, then later found her unresponsive and lying in a pool of blood, allegedly after falling from the bed.

Investigators uncovered that the mother had taken out multiple life-insurance policies on the child. The court found that the motive for the killing was to cash in on these policies, a fact that weighed heavily on the sentencing decision.

During the sentencing hearing, the presiding judge described the crime as “cold, calculated and motivated by greed.” The court noted the breach of trust inherent in a parent killing a child for personal gain, which justified the life sentence.

The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of insurance fraud and abuse in South Africa, especially when the innocent lives of children are involved. Analysts say this case may prompt regulators and insurance companies to review how life-insurance policies are issued and monitored, especially those with minors as beneficiaries.

In the KwaMashu community, reactions have been of shock, sadness and anger. Local members of the community have expressed their condolences to the family of the deceased and voiced concern that a parent trusted with the care of a child would betray that trust so gravely.

The mother now faces life behind bars, and the court has ordered forfeiture of the insurance proceeds to the state pending further investigation.