The dead walk in Groutville

A Groutville senior citizen is living a nightmare – because she is apparently dead.

Seventy-six-year-old Busisiswe Duma of Melville received the shock of her life in April when she went to collect her old age grant from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) offices in KwaDukuza, only to be told she could not collect it because she had died.

“They told me that I must go to Home Affairs and that was where I was given all the details about my so-called death. I was told I must re-apply for an ID,” said Duma.

Duma was handed a ‘notice of death’ form which states that she died from gastro-enteritis in the Mandeni area in March this year. The death notice bears the name, signature and stamp of the attending doctor and district surgeon, Dr Aumesh Harilall of 19 Cato St, KwaDukuza, on March 16, 2016. Another form states that her body was collected by Okasihlaba Funeral Services on the same day.

In the file is a copy of the ID of the person who reported Duma’s death, 29-year-old Mandisa Gcwabaza. Duma said she had never seen her before. Duma said she did open a case at the KwaDukuza SAPS but was not given a case number.

“I suspect that someone within my family is behind this. I do remember someone asking me if she could put me on her funeral cover and I refused. I have my own funeral cover. So I think this was done for insurance purposes. If I die today my children will not be able to get anything from my insurance because I am already dead,” said Duma.

When approached by The Courier last Wednesday, Dr Harilall said he did indicate on the form that the body’s face does not seem to match the person on the ID photo.

“That is where my job ends. Those documents are given to my client and they take it to Home Affairs,” said Harilall.

The district surgeon’s client in this case was Mandisa Gcwabaza, the person who reported Duma’s death.

Dr Harilall showed The Courier the death notice issued by his office, which shows a tick in the box which says “The features of the deceased do not match the features on the ID document.”

A stamp on the form states that the body had been collected in Mandeni by Okasihlaba Funeral Services with the company’s address as 29 Cato Street, a few doors down from the district surgeon.

When The Courier called the landline we were told the company had moved and all efforts to locate them have been to no avail.

It does not appear that the thief or thieves were targeting Duma’s existing life policy. According to her insurance company, Isithebe Burial Society, they were aware that Duma is still alive and they have not paid out the policy.

A source in the funeral business in KwaDukuza, who asked not to be named, said he comes across this kind of fraud almost daily.

“This is part of a long chain of a dirty money-making scheme. These people have connections with Home Affairs. It is possible that the funeral company does not even exist.

“Should someone try to expose them, the status of the dead person will be changed by their contact in home affairs. So in court, they will present new evidence to prove that the person is still alive.

That is how you get sued for accusing them of fraud,” he said.

Duma had told The Courier that she had lost her original ID book several years ago. It was at that point, the source suggested, that the idea for the elaborate fraud had been born.

After registering Duma’s death, the thief or thieves would have used Duma’s original ID to start a life insurance policy with another company, then produce her death certificate to claim on the policy.

Her employer, Ballito resident Earnie Jones, said he cannot allow Duma to retire without getting this matter put right.

He said Duma had been working for him for eight years. Currently, he employs her two days a week.

“I am forced to let her work so that she can get an income, otherwise she will be left with nothing,” said Jones.

KwaDukuza Home Affairs manager Dion Moonsamy told The Courier that the matter was being investigated. Until it is resolved, Duma is still considered dead and is not liable for a social welfare grant.