Family don't know 'ghost heir'
2008-05-06 20:53
Oris Mnisi and Thandy Ndlovu
Bushbuckridge - The family of a murder victim says they don't know a woman who claims to be a beneficiary of his estate.
Ebert Matsana, 56, a cleaner at Mapulaneng Hospital in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, was found killed at his house in Masana village on April 18.
He was founded seated upright in his bed, with his back against the wall. His left eye, chin and lower lip were mutilated. His shoes were on a chest freezer near his bed.
His son, John, 23, who lived with him, found him that morning and said he hadn't heard any noise during the night.
"I came home very late as I was very drunk. I also usually play my radio very loudly in my bedroom," he said.
When he found his father's body the next morning, he alerted his aunt, Selinah, 60, who called the neighbours and police.
Different ID number
Selinah, a fruit-and-vegetable vendor, said she had to pay R15 000 for the funeral from her own pocket when her brother's insurance companies refused to do so.
The insurers said the family had the wrong ID number for her brother and that his beneficiary was a woman called Mrs Tshepo Joana Mola.
"This beneficiary is a ghost," said Selinah. "And my brother was born in 1952. This ID number they say is his says he was born in 1975. It was forged."
Inspector Nyiko Maluleke said police had not arrested anyone for Matsana's murder yet and had opened a case of murder.
He said no one had come forward to report the fraud allegations.
- African Eye