Online Reporter
DURBAN. — When an angry family dumped a corpse at Capitec Bank in KwaDukuza, in protest over an unpaid insurance claim, it was a scene that probably shocked the world.
The branch on Chief Albert Luthuli Street was temporarily closed so that the body could be removed.
But, here on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, the dramatic measure taken by the family is something that has been happening often.
It’s the third time a body has been left in a bank in the town in the last seven years.
In July last year, a grieving family carried a coffin into the Capitec branch at KwaDukuza Mall in protest of a delayed insurance payout.
The claim was later settled.
Six years earlier, in November 2019, a body was left in an Old Mutual branch in KwaDukuza over a similar dispute.
A video went viral showing two women, Ntombenhle Mhlongo and Thandaza Mtshali, carrying the body of their 46-year-old uncle, Sifiso Justice Mhlongo, in a body bag into an Old Mutual office in Stanger.
The family had claimed a R30,000 payout after his death, but the company dragged its feet, asking for more proof.
Frustrated, they left the body at the office and went to check if the money had hit their account.
Once confirmed, they took the body away, and Sifiso was buried on family land near Stanger.
The unusual protests, driven by frustration over the bank’s request for proof of death, forced the branch to shut down early and sparked a police response, highlighting the deep emotional and financial strains families face when dealing with insurance claims in tough times.
The Desperate Protest Inside the Bank
In the latest case, the family had been trying to claim funds from a funeral policy held by their late relative, but bank officials reportedly insisted on clear proof that the person had passed away.
Instead of getting a death certificate from the Department of Home Affairs, which is the standard way, the family chose a bold and heartbreaking step.
They collected the body from a local mortuary, placed it in a black body bag, and brought it right into the bank premises.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of total chaos as the body bag was left on the floor near the counters.
Customers waiting in line panicked and rushed out, while staff members were left stunned and had to evacuate the building quickly.
The smell and sight caused some people to feel sick, and the whole area around the bank was shut down for a short time to handle the situation.
Local security teams, like those from Taurus Medical and Security, got involved after hearing about it through community WhatsApp groups.
Owner Nikesh Hooblall shared how he learned of the “body left in the bank” and rushed to the scene, where he saw the deceased in the bag amid the confusion.
Police arrived soon after to manage the crowd and ensure public health rules were followed, as handling a body in a public space like this raises serious concerns about hygiene and respect for the dead.
The bank closed its doors for the rest of the day, leaving other customers to find alternative ways to do their banking.
This kind of protest shows just how far some families will go when they feel ignored or pushed to the edge by paperwork and delays that add to their grief.
Why the Family Took Such Extreme Measures
At the heart of this drama is the everyday struggle many South Africans face with funeral insurance.
These policies are meant to help cover burial costs, which can run into thousands of rands for things like coffins, transport, and ceremonies.
In this case, the family said they had submitted all the needed documents earlier, but the bank kept asking for more proof. — centralnews.co.za/The Citizen
