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By Benida Phillips 
5h ago
Kimberley – Relatives of a deceased man who died in a shack fire in Galeshewe on Sept. 29 clamped down on Friday and took the body of the deceased to a local bank after the bank apparently failed to pay the funeral policy. .
According to one of the deceased’s brothers, Thabo Tshite, they had no other choice as they had already made arrangements to bury their brother.
Tshite said they followed all procedures and completed the necessary paperwork in time for the claim to be processed.
“Our brother died in the fire around 2 am on Tuesday. We immediately reported his death and we also reported the bank. Our 70 year old father is the policy holder and was informed what documents were required for the claim.
“The bank told us that they wanted the police authorization and all the other necessary documentation. We presented all the necessary documents the same day. The bank said that the payment would be made between 24 and 48 hours. We were relieved when we made it clear that my brother he died in a horrible way and we want to bury him as soon as possible, “Tshite said.
“We were thinking about the state of the body because it had been burned beyond recognition. The bank seemed to understand our wish and said that we would receive the payment. However, it is now more than 48 hours and the money is not yet reflected in the bank account of our father “.
Tshite said she accompanied her elderly father when the policy was processed.
“We returned to the bank on Friday morning. We spoke to someone from their central office by phone and they assured us that the claim was successful and that the money would be paid. We had made arrangements to bury our brother on Saturday October 3rd.
“As the day progressed, my father informed me that the money was not yet reflected in his account. Then I called the branch and told them that we would come and leave the body in the bank in case they did not pay. We waited several hours and again I called the bank just before 3pm. Then they told us that the matter was moving to the central office.
“I told the person on the other end of the line that we would take my brother’s body to the bank and that they can bury him. We are ready to bury my brother and the bank wants to inform us a few hours before the funeral that we cannot do it”, Tshite said.
Customers inside the bank took video images with their cell phones as the brothers entered with the coffin and the deceased inside.
Security personnel unsuccessfully tried to resolve the matter as customers watched.
The brothers swore they would not move and even threatened to remove the body from the coffin.
Bank staff tried to intervene and then told family members that they would call the regional manager to come and resolve the matter.
Police also went to the scene after being briefed on the matter.
While the police and relatives waited for the regional manager to arrive, they were told that the money would be deposited at 5 pm.
Another member of the family, Lebogang Mogodi, asked why the money would only be paid at 5pm.
“We had been waiting for the regional manager for so long, what would be so difficult to just make a transfer? These people want us to leave the building because they know that the bank is now closed. Once we are out, we will no longer get the money. We will wait until 5pm and we’ll only leave once we get a call from our father telling us that the money has been paid into his account. “
At the end of the business, the matter was finally resolved.
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