The Molopo Magistrates' Court in Mmabatho in the North West heard that the woman accused of killing her relatives for insurance money was arrested just outside an insurance company office, where she was about to claim a R6 million payout for her son, who died in July this year. Agnes Setshwantsho who is dubbed Rosemary Ndlovu 2.0 appeared in court yesterday for the continuation of her bail hearing.
A SUSPECT IN HER SON AND HUSBAND'S DEATHS
Giving evidence opposing Setshwantsho's bail, lead investigator Sergeant Kheshi Mabunda said that Setshwantsho was now their main suspect in the death of her son Kutlo, who was studying at a University in Cape Town. It's alleged that Setshwantsho went to fetch her son from school in July and bought him a burger at Steers on their way home. "We have the records of her buying two burgers at Steers using her FNB card in Mothibistad. She had fetched Kutlo for the July school holidays," Mabunda told the court. Mabunda also testified that he had the order to exhume Setshwantso's late husband Warrant Officer Justice Setshwantsho who died in 2016. It's alleged that the deceased was not going to work for a year before his death and that the suspect had enquired about his pension payout from the station commander where he worked. "The deceased's colleague Colonel Selepe called to check if he was sick and the accused answered his phone and refused for Selepe to speak to her husband," Mabunda testified.
SHE GAVE INVESTIGATING OFFICER FAKE ADDRESS
North West National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Henry Mamothame said that Setshwantsho's defence attorney read an affidavit on her behalf, stating reasons why she should be granted bail. Mamothame said that the investigating officer, Mabunda provided the court with reasons for opposing bail. "Mabunda, amongst other things testified on the false address provided by the accused when she was profiled. The same address was discovered to be provided by the insurance companies she is registered with. He further testified on the availability of storage facilities to keep preserving the accused's chronic medication, dispelling her allegation that such facilities are not available," he said.
STATE TO CALL NEXT WITNESS
Mamothame said the state intends to call on its next witness when the matter resumes. The accused is facing a charge of murder, two of fraud and one of defeating the ends of justice. She is accused of poisoning her niece in March this year, six months after she took out an R3 million life cover in her name. The South African Police (SAPS) reported that on 16 November 2023, an intelligence operation led to the arrest of the accused on suspicion that she murdered her relatives to benefit from insurance claims. The suspect was traced and arrested in Centurion during a takedown operation led by the SAPS in collaboration and full cooperation with an insurance company. The SAPS further reported that in the past two months, Mabunda and a team of detectives have been working on the case following a tip-off from relatives of this suspect. Through analysis and collection of evidence, including the exhumation of a body, the team was able to link Setshwantsho to the murder. "Police are conducting further investigations with the possibility of adding more charges against the accused. Meanwhile, the accused will remain in police custody pending the outcome of the bail application," he said. The case was postponed to 20 December.
