Nokwanda Ngombane, the widow of slain Free State government official Noby Ngombane, stood to benefit from insurance on her husband’s life totalling R20-million, City Press reported on Sunday.
Nokwanda, who handed herself over to the police on Friday, was the sole beneficiary of the policies, the newspaper said.
She would have received payouts in August from three insurance claims.
But the companies are unlikely to pay out after her arrest, the paper said, quoting anonymous sources.
Noby Ngombane, who was led to believe that his life was in danger in the Free State due to his unpopularity among some in the African National Congress, had taken several insurance policies on his life a few years ago, the paper said.
Nokwanda and two relatives were arrested on Friday, a day after her brother, Bongani Mlambo, and sister, Sephumle Booi, were arrested and appeared in court.
Mlambo (28), an official at the provincial social-development department, faces a charge of murder. Booi (23), an employee at a clothing-design company, faces a charge of accessory to murder.
The arrest of Nokwanda and her relatives marked a dramatic twist in the saga, the newspaper said, given Nokwanda’s claims at her husband’s funeral.
Shortly after Noby’s murder, Nokwanda claimed that he had been assassinated by rivals within the ANC.
”We [are] talking about a political assassination. Let us not beat around the bush when it is said that this murder is a mystery whose motives are unclear.
”We are talking about a political killing,” she said.
She said she knew the identity of the killers and had given their names to the police. — Sapa