SHARPEVILLE. – A trusted burial society scheme has come into disrepute after allegedly failing to honor the payment of claims to bereaved families.

According to families under the Noxy Inkomo Burial Scheme, which provides a cow or R8000 for the burial, they had to make alternative arrangements after their claims were not paid out when their loved ones recently passed away.

63-year-old Doreen Potlaki from Tshepiso said she and her family had to put together money to buy meaty bones on the day of her aunt’s burial after the scheme failed to deliver on the promise of delivering a cow.

“I joined this scheme in 2021. Most people I have insured are unemployed relatives so as to lessen the burden of having to carry all funeral costs when the time comes. I wanted to give my aunt a dignified burial but unfortunately, I was disappointed. I’m very hurt about this because I had promised my aunt’s children that I would take care of the meat for the burial,” she said
Madikotsi Ramakau said the same thing happened to her family when they had to bury her brother.

“My Brother was paying for the cow for his burial. When we put in a claim after his death, they said they would come back to us. Till today they have still not paid out the claim so we had to come together as a family and make alternative arrangements. We are very hurt and we want that money because we have to make debt in order to carry on with the burial.”

Noxolo Biyela from Noxy Inkomo Burial Scheme said the burial scheme started having a backlog of claims after her underwriter failed her.

“Most of the clients on the backlog are pensioners. Everyone will be paid. I need the clients to calm down as we are busy sorting this out,” Biyela said.