DESPATCH – Five female suspects aged between 23 and 46 years old have been arrested and charged with fraud by SAPS Despatch detectives. This follows developments uncovered during the investigation into the murder of Cynthia Nowizana Mali (56).
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These suspects appeared at the Kariega Magistrate’s Court and were granted bail of R1,000 each and are set to appear again on 10 April 2026.
According to SAPS spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg, this follows the murder that occurred on Sunday, 18 January 2026, in the Mahashe area, Despatch, where the victim was stabbed multiple times in the upper body.
“During the investigation, detectives established that five females allegedly submitted fraudulent insurance claims after the death of the victim.”
She added that the suspects were arrested on 10 February 2026 and appeared in the Kariega Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, where the case was postponed to yesterday, 17 February 2026, for a formal bail application.
Janse Van Rensburg stated that the suspects are Zizipho Foster (26), Thandiswa Mama (40), Yanga Mfengu (23), Pholisa Luguxa (46), and Nomaqadi Koli (40).
“The investigation into the murder is ongoing,” she concluded.
