Picture: The triple murder accused, Daniel Mokwai
By OBAKENG MAJE
16 September 2024– A triple murder case against man (62), who is accused of killing his three family members over insurance claims, has been postponed by the Bloemhof Magistrate’s Court until 30 September 2024. David Mokwai, who was arrested for allegedly poisoning his three family members over the years in order for him to make insurance claims, has been denied bail.
Initially, three family members, who died over a period of three years, were buried and considered to have died due to natural causes.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said in all three cases, Mokwai successfully claimed from his insurance policies. Myburgh said, however, family members reported him to the police after becoming suspicious that he murdered their relatives by allegedly buying all three of them pies.
“They would then get sick after eating the pie and eventually die. The bodies of all three deceased were exhumed and pathology reports confirmed that they were poisoned, leading to the murder investigations.
“In the first incident reported on 5 December 2020, a boy (16), died at midday between Phuduhudu and Gopane, near Bloemhof. The boy was the relative of Mokwai’s wife,” she said.
Myburgh further said the second deceased (17), who was also the relative of the wife of the accused, died on Wednesday night,1 December 2021, in Boitumelong Township, outside Bloemhof. She added that the last victim, Mothibi Alpheos Mokwai (31), was the accused’ son.
“He died on Sunday afternoon, 9 October 2022, at his house in Mathyse Street in Bloemhof. Through prosecution led investigations, police identified Mokwai as a suspect and obtained a warrant of arrest that was effected on 26 August 2024,” said Myburgh.
The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, said it is unacceptable that young children were murdered by someone they trusted. Kwena reiterated that the police will continue to work hard to remove criminals such as this one from society.
“We call upon insurance companies and members of the public to report cases, where they suspect foul play or criminal activity when they process insurance claims,” he said.
Meanwhile, the family spokesperson of the deceased persons, Moses Moses Tsikane said: “As family, we welcome the postponement. Remember, we want this trial to be fair. So, in order for that to happen, everyone involved needs the necessary time to prepare for this case.
“So, we welcome the decision of keeping him incarcerated because that will give us the space that we need as family, also to prepare ourselves emotionally and psychologically.”
Tsikane said they are confident that at the end, justice will prevail. He said based on how long the case took to be unravelled and the tireless efforts put in by the police, he is adamant that this case will receive the attention it deserves.
“South Africa is one of the countries with the best law practices, so we are confident. We have seen how the police dealt with previous cases of a similar nature across the country, including North West,” he said.
The Guardian 