A grieving family brought a dead body in a coffin into Capitec Bank at KwaDukuza Mall on Tuesday in protest over an alleged funeral insurance payout delay.

North Coast Courier reports that, according to the family, they filed the claim last Wednesday and were initially told payment would be processed within 48 hours. They were later informed funds would only be available by August 22, nearly a month later.

Feeling helpless, the family made the drastic decision to take the deceased to the bank to highlight the emotional and financial burden caused by the delay.

The incident shocked shoppers and staff, drawing concern and sympathy from onlookers.

A 43-year-old woman, sister of the 25-year-old deceased, expressed deep disappointment in the bank.

“We have to bury my sister this Saturday. Since they say they will only pay on the 22nd of next month, we brought her body to prove she has passed. I am worried because my whole family is insured with this bank.”

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in KwaDukuza. In 2019, a family from Madundube took a body to an Old Mutual branch under similar circumstances. Old Mutual said the claim had already been processed but acknowledged delays and apologised.

KwaDukuza Mall management distanced itself from the matter.

“This was a private dispute between the family and Capitec Bank, which is an independent tenant operating within the mall premises,” said mall manager Siyabonga Tembe.

Capitec Bank had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publishing.

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