The bail application of Madjadji Flora Shokane, the 27-year-old daughter of a Limpopo policewoman, was postponed to April after she appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Shokane stands accused of a chilling series of crimes, including the alleged murder of six people, as well as fraudulently cashing in over R10-million in insurance claims linked to the victims.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in Limpopo Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the matter was postponed to April 3 and 4, 2025, due to the unavailability of the presiding officer.

"The applicant submitted an affidavit for her bail application, and the state witness took a stand to oppose the bail, stating how the applicant benefited from the insurance policies of the deceased persons who were mental challenged," she explained.

Limpopo police Sergeant Rachel Raesetsa Shokane-Kutumela, 43, together with her elder sister, Annah Shokane, 47, a nurse at Cintocare Private Hospital in Menlyn, and her daughter, a caregiver at an old-age home in Pretoria North, face multiple charges, including six counts of murder, money laundering, receiving proceeds from unlawful activities, 12 counts of fraud, and defeating the ends of justice.

“The money laundering charges apply specifically to Rachel Kutumela and her daughter, Madjadji," said the National Prosecuting Authority's Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.

Shokane-Kutumela was arrested on October 10, 2024, while at work at Senwabarwana Police Station. Meanwhile, her sister and daughter were arrested a week later on October 17, 2024.

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Malabi-Dzhangi added that the police officer and her sister allegedly took out life, accidental, and funeral insurance policies for several victims and subsequently claimed over R10 million and they shared the money amongst themselves.

“The payouts were made through various service providers, including ABSA, Standard Bank, Capitec, Hollard, Sanlam, King Price, First National Bank, Assupol, Old Mutual, Onelife, and Clientele,” explained Malabi-Dzhangi.

The police officer admitted to transferring R500,000 to her sister to purchase a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Range Rover at an auction in Pretoria in 2020.

She said the vehicles were registered under her sister’s name due to Covid-19 restrictions preventing her from transferring ownership.

Malabi-Dzhangi added that the crimes spanned from 2000 until 2024, and victims were found dead in various circumstances.

“Disturbingly, some of the incidents included a woman who was burned in her shack and a disabled man who drowned in a dam. The fatalities occurred in locations such as Soweto, Sebokeng, Matlerekeng, Lebowakgomo, and Seshego,” she stated.

It was said that some of the victims were direct family members of the accused.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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