POTCHEFSTROOM - A triple murder accused; Daniel Mokwai (62) appeared before the Bloemhof Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 28 August 2024, for the alleged murder of three family members. He was remanded in custody until his second court appearance on Wednesday, 4 September 2024, for legal representative.
Initially, three family members, who died over a period of three years, were buried and considered to have died due to natural causes. In all three cases, the accused successfully claimed from his insurance policies. However, family members reported him to the police after becoming suspicious that he murdered their relatives by allegedly buying all three of them pies. They would then get sick after eating the pie and eventually died. The bodies of all three deceased were exhumed and pathology reports confirmed that they were poisoned, leading to the murder investigations.
In the first incident, reported on Saturday, 5 December 2020, a 16-year-old boy died at midday between Phuduhudu and Gopane, close to Bloemhof. The boy was the accused’s wife‘s relative.
The second deceased, who was also the accused’s wife’s relative and aged 17, died on Wednesday night,1 December 2021, in Boitumelong Township, outside of Bloemhof.
The last victim, Mothibi Alpheos Mokwai (31), was the accused’ son. He died on Sunday afternoon, 9 October 2022, at his house in Mathyse Street in Bloemhof.
Through prosecution led investigations, police identified Mokwai as a suspect and obtained a warrant of arrest that was effected on Monday, 26 August 2024.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena said it is unacceptable that young children were murdered by someone they trusted. He reiterated that police will continue to work hard to remove criminals such as this one from society. He called upon insurance companies and members of the public to report cases where they suspect foul play or criminal activity when they process insurance claims.
