Family dumps dead body inside bank as proof of death

By Editor

A grieving family in Stanger, KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa, took drastic measures on Wednesday by bringing the body of their deceased relative to a Capitec Bank branch as proof of death.

This action reportedly followed the bank’s refusal to process the deceased’s claim, allegedly instructing the family to provide proof that their loved one had indeed passed away, MDN News reports.

Instead of obtaining a death certificate from Home Affairs, it is alleged that the family collected the body from the mortuary and brought it inside the Capitec Bank branch in Stanger. The incident forced the bank to close early.

This is not the first occurrence of its kind in the area.

Last year, a grieving family brought a body in a coffin into the Capitec Bank branch at KwaDukuza Mall to protest an alleged delay in a funeral insurance payout.

According to the family, they had lodged the claim and were initially told payment would be processed within 48 hours. They were later informed that the funds would only be available nearly a month later, on August 22. Feeling helpless, the family made the drastic decision to bring the deceased to the bank to highlight the emotional and financial burden caused by the delay. The incident shocked shoppers and staff, drawing both concern and sympathy from onlookers.

In a similar 2019 incident, a video showing Ntombenhle Mhlongo and Thandaza Mtshali went viral on social media. The footage showed the two carrying the body of 46-year-old Sifiso Mhlongo in a body bag into an Old Mutual office in Stanger. Following the protest, Old Mutual rapidly paid out the R30,000 owed, and Mhlongo was subsequently buried.

MDN News