By Kaya 959 Reporter
Three people who murdered a woman to cash out on an insurance payout are expected to be sentenced on Friday.
Pastor Melisizwe Monqo, his wife Siphosihle Pamba, and hitman Phumlani Qhusheka, were convicted of kidnapping and murdering Hlompo Koloi.
According to the NPA, they did this in order to benefit from the life insurance policy they took out on her. The couple took out the policy without Koloi’s knowledge.
NPA spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, says the trio was arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
He says they were also convicted for various other charges, including defeating or obstructing the course of justice, and housebreaking in order to commit murder.
The court also found the couple guilty of the attempted murder of Nomfundiso Booi. Several attempts were made on Booi’s life.
Ntabazalila says Monqo and his wife also face 13 charges of fraud.
READ: Serial killer cop sentenced for killing relatives and lover for insurance payouts
Pastor took out policies on congregants
Monqo is a pastor at God’s Work International Ministries.
He and Pamba took out life insurance policies on behalf of congregants and then planned their murders in order to cash out the policies.
The NPA says the couple took out policies on at least four people without their knowledge or consent.
In July 2018, a fisherman at Herolds Bay found Koloi’s body lying at the side of a gravel road in Voelklip. She had several stab wounds and her throat had been slit.
Police investigations revealed that Koloi was on her way to a job interview when was picked up by Monqo and Qhusheka. Her body was found several hours later. Other, similar cases were also committed in Mthatha, Gqeberha, Grahamstown, and Bhisho.
During earlier proceedings, the court heard how the accused tried more than once to murder Booi.
First she was shot while out with her family in Queenstown. Booi was also attacked while walking home from work. She survived both attempts.
Sentencing is expected to take place in the Western Cape High Court on Friday.



