Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The two accused in the so-called "insurance murder" case, Nomphelo Maloyi and Lwazi Kay, appeared in court last Wednesday, 29 November. 

Maloyi and Kay were arrested for the murder of Maloyi's 66-year-old uncle, Mynhardt Maloyi, whose body was found inside his house in Henry Street in uMasizakhe, Graaff-Reinet in November last year.

Maloyi and Kay first appeared in court for the murder on 12 December last year. Both were denied bail and remained in custody. In February, WO Nkohli Majola, spokesperson for the police in the Sarah Baartman district, confirmed that the court has since added six charges, ranging from murder to insurance fraud, to the initial murder charge.

Maloyi and Kay applied for bail again earlier this year and their bail applications were heard for the first time on 24 April. The state opposed both bail applications and called the investigating officer, detective Monwabisi Morley, to testify to the reasons why bail should be denied. In his testimony Morley raised the nature of the crimes allegedly committed by the accused as one of the reasons why they should not be released on bail. 

He described how the two accused conspired to kill Mynhardt Maloyi and how they went about committing the gruesome murder.

According to Morley's testimony, Maloyi approached Kay to kill her uncle because she wanted the payouts of insurance policies that she has taken out on his life. Kay agreed to do the job after Maloyi promised to pay him R20 000 as soon as she receives the policy payouts.

Kay was supposed to finish the job on 23 November but, since he had difficulty finding the house, it was not done. On the evening of 24 November Maloyi and Kay, both dressed in black, headed to her uncle's house together. 

It was said that he was expecting her visit because she promised to buy him a Coke, but when he opened the door Maloyi and Kay entered his house and tied him to a chair. Maloyi started stabbing him with a knife and then handed the knife to Kay who finished the job.

Following several postponements of their bail hearings, both accused's bail applications were denied on 23 June, primarily based on the nature and extent of the crimes they stand accused of. Specific concerns relating to the safety of the public and testimony of the investigating officer (Morley), were also considered.

To date, the case against Maloyi and Kay has not been heard. The District Public Prosecutor (DPP) is still awaiting the final investigation report to determine which court it must be referred to.

If the information at the disposal of the DPP indicates that the case is of a very serious nature, it will be heard in the high court in Grahamstown, otherwise it will proceed in the regional court in Graaff-Reinet. The case has been postponed to 20 December.

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