Buffalo City ANC leader Zolani Xego faked his own death and, with his wife at the time, Vuyelwa Hlekiso-Xego, tried to get an insurance company to pay out R3.5-million in life cover he had taken out shortly before his temporary demise.
Yesterday, the estranged couple was convicted on four counts of fraud each relating to the life insurance scam and another swindle of an insurance company which paid out after they claimed Hlekiso’s car had been stolen.
East London magistrate Deon Roussouw had scathing comments for local doctor Pieter Bothma, who signed the death certificate for Xego, saying he had made a mockery of death certification and brought the medical profession into disrepute.
In 2005 and 2006, Xego had taken out two policies with Discovery Life – one which would pay out R1.8-million in the event of his death and the other R1.7-million.
The initial beneficiaries were listed as his two minor children but this was later changed to Hlekiso. In August 2007, Xego faked his death and Hlekiso submitted a claim to Discovery Life. But after a routine investigation the company declined to pay out on the claim.
Xego, 44, and Hlekiso, 42, were found to have duped Bothma and home affairs officials into issuing the death certificate, and misrepresenting to Discovery that Xego was dead and Hlekiso entitled to claim against the policies.
Both accused were convicted of receiving R52926 from Santam on the lie that Hlekiso’s vehicle was stolen when it had been taken to Mthatha by a friend on the instructions of Xego.
Xego was convicted of misrepresenting to home affairs that he required a “first time” identity document, even though he had been in possession of an ID for almost 20 years and had been through a series of identity-related applications with the department.
Roussouw said Bothma had an unequivocal trust in the people who presented themselves to him as the family of the deceased.
This type of fraud could not be committed without the assistance of a number of people. But it was highly unlikely there would be a “paper trail” pointing to those involved. Roussouw said claims that witnesses were involved in the insurance fraud had been denied and could not be confirmed.
The trial has been postponed to February 18 for sentence. Commercial crimes prosecutor Advocate Wayne Jaftha initially opposed the couple’s release on warning but relented when Hlekiso’s counsel, Advocate Mluleki Chithi, told the court Hlekiso had two minor children. — rayh@dispatch.co.za
Xego guilty of faking his death
Yesterday, the estranged couple was convicted on four counts of fraud each relating to the life insurance scam and another swindle of an insurance company which paid out after they claimed Hlekiso’s car had been stolen.
East London magistrate Deon Roussouw had scathing comments for local doctor Pieter Bothma, who signed the death certificate for Xego, saying he had made a mockery of death certification and brought the medical profession into disrepute.
In 2005 and 2006, Xego had taken out two policies with Discovery Life – one which would pay out R1.8-million in the event of his death and the other R1.7-million.
The initial beneficiaries were listed as his two minor children but this was later changed to Hlekiso. In August 2007, Xego faked his death and Hlekiso submitted a claim to Discovery Life. But after a routine investigation the company declined to pay out on the claim.
Xego, 44, and Hlekiso, 42, were found to have duped Bothma and home affairs officials into issuing the death certificate, and misrepresenting to Discovery that Xego was dead and Hlekiso entitled to claim against the policies.
Both accused were convicted of receiving R52926 from Santam on the lie that Hlekiso’s vehicle was stolen when it had been taken to Mthatha by a friend on the instructions of Xego.
Xego was convicted of misrepresenting to home affairs that he required a “first time” identity document, even though he had been in possession of an ID for almost 20 years and had been through a series of identity-related applications with the department.
Roussouw said Bothma had an unequivocal trust in the people who presented themselves to him as the family of the deceased.
This type of fraud could not be committed without the assistance of a number of people. But it was highly unlikely there would be a “paper trail” pointing to those involved. Roussouw said claims that witnesses were involved in the insurance fraud had been denied and could not be confirmed.
The trial has been postponed to February 18 for sentence. Commercial crimes prosecutor Advocate Wayne Jaftha initially opposed the couple’s release on warning but relented when Hlekiso’s counsel, Advocate Mluleki Chithi, told the court Hlekiso had two minor children. — rayh@dispatch.co.za
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