Two Women Arrested for Bringing Grandmother's Body to Capitec Bank Over Insurance Dispute

• Two women in KwaZulu-Natal were arrested for bringing their grandmother's body to a bank over an insurance payout dispute
• The insurance policy delays allegedly led to the unusual incident, causing public disturbance at a Capitec Bank in Stanger
• The bank expressed its sadness over the event, launching an investigation and temporarily closing the branch

Justin Williams, a journalist at Briefly News since 2024, covers South Africa’s current affairs. Before joining Briefly News, he served as a writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa’s South African chapter.

KWAZULU-NATAL, KWADUKUZA - Two KwaZulu-Natal women appeared in court on Thursday, 19 February 2026, after taking their grandmother's body into a Capitec Bank in KwaDukuza during a dispute over an insurance payout.

Two arrested for taking body to bank

It is reported that police in KwaZulu-Natal arrested the pair, aged 57 and 48, on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, at a Capitec Bank branch on Chief Albert Luthuli Street in Stanger. The South African Police Service KwaDukuza spokesperson Siphesihle Myeni said officers responded to reports of a disturbance at the bank. He said the women had taken out funeral cover policies for their grandmother. One policy had paid out R50,000, while a second payment was delayed pending verification.

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Myeni said the delay was linked to an unclear funeral parlour stamp. He said the family used a funeral parlour vehicle to transport the body to the bank after becoming frustrated over the outstanding payment. He confirmed the women was arrested at the scene and faced charges of extortion, intimidation and public disturbance. The incident forced the temporary closure of the branch.

Capitec Bank told Briefly News on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, that it was deeply saddened by the incident at its Stanger branch and acknowledged the frustration and concern it caused. The bank said it had launched an investigation to establish the facts and temporarily closed the branch to protect the dignity of those involved and the well-being of the community. Capitec said it was working with relevant authorities to ensure all processes were followed with care, dignity and respect.

Other insurance-related stories

Briefly News also reported that the decision by Icebolethu Group to deny a funeral policy claim following the death of a KwaZulu-Natal man allegedly involved in criminal activity has ignited widespread debate online, raising questions about accountability, due process, and the scope of funeral insurance cover. The controversy centres on the death of Sbonelo Zaca, who was fatally wounded during a shootout with police in KwaZulu-Natal.

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South Africans were left stunned after a South African Police Service member was arrested for allegedly killing six family members. The 43-year-old officer is stationed at the Senwabarwana Police Station. She allegedly killed six family members to claim more than R10 million. The police officer was handcuffed while in her uniform and was taken into custody.

The Calvinia Magistrates Court in Calvinia, Northern Cape, found a Department of Home Affairs official guilty of faking the deaths of South Africans to benefit from funeral insurance payouts. Dawn Celeste Pieterson was found guilty of nine counts of fraud and two counts of contravening the Births and Deaths Registration Act.

Source: Briefly News