The murder case in which an 83-year-old Mpumalanga woman was killed in March, allegedly by three people including her daughter and granddaughter, will return to court tomorrow for the trio to formally apply for bail.

Mandenane Emmie Maunye’s daughter, Portia Moeng (40), her granddaughter, Lebo Magopane (26), and Ps Polite Thapelo Khoza (25), are accused of strangling her and setting her house alight to make it appear as if she died in an accidental fire.

Police have said the possibility of exhuming the deceased’s body remains. Maunye was buried, with her daughter and granddaughter attending the funeral, before the murder was allegedly revealed by the third accused while being questioned about another crime.

The trio were due to formally apply for bail in the Acornhoek Magistrate’s Court last Tuesday, but they were brought to court late, prompting the presiding officer to postpone the matter to this week. The case has been placed on the roll for tomorrow and Wednesday.

Daughter arrested after being admitted to hospital

Moeng, a nurse at a Gauteng hospital, was arrested on April 10 while the others had already been arrested.

Investigating officers tracked Moeng to Rob Ferreira Hospital, where she had been admitted for an unidentified illness.

While Magopane and Khoza appeared in court on April 10, Moeng appeared the following day, April 11.

Police believe policy payout was motive

Police allege that on March 7, Maunye was strangled and her house set on fire to conceal the true cause of death and make it appear accidental.

Her body was discovered in the house at Buffelshoek near Acornhoek by relatives the next morning.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said they believe the motive for the murder was a policy payout in Maunye’s name. Mdhluli added it was uncertain whether Maunye’s body would be exhumed.

“That is a possibility that cannot immediately be confirmed. Depending on further investigations, the court will have to make a ruling in that regard, but also do not forget that the body was burnt,” said Mdhluli.

How police learned of Maunye’s murder

The alleged murder was revealed after Khoza was linked to a robbery and kidnapping in Mataffin near Mbombela in December. Valuables were stolen during the incident, the homeowner kidnapped, and his company vehicle taken.

Police investigations led them to Khoza, who was allegedly found in possession of items believed to have been stolen during the robbery.

During questioning, police claim Khoza confessed that he, Magopane and Moeng strangled Maunye and set the house on fire to cover up the crime.

Family shocked by arrests

A family member, who asked not to be named, told Mpumalanga News that Moeng and Magopane attended the funeral on March 8.

“I am extremely shocked to hear that they are accused of killing my aunt. The two were crying the loudest at the funeral, so those were just crocodile tears,” said the family member.

He said the policy payout following Maunye’s death would have been R600 000.

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