Investigators have successfully frozen over R260,000 linked to a chilling murder-for-pension scheme in Botshabelo, Bloemfontein, where a widow is accused of orchestrating her husband’s brutal killing. The investigation, led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s (Hawks) Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) unit and the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), culminated in a preservation order that ensures the funds remain frozen while the investigation continues.
The widow, Halimmah Mnyobisi, aged 39, is alleged to have masterminded the murder of her 35-year-old husband, Fezile Mnyobisi, who was fatally stabbed on September 15, 2023, while walking home from a tavern. Authorities believe that Halimmah, in collaboration with two male accomplices, meticulously planned the killing in order to benefit from her husband’s pension payout.
Suspicion about her involvement grew when Halimmah collected approximately R300,000 from the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) following her husband’s death. The large sum raised red flags, prompting further investigation into her financial activities.
The Free State Division of the High Court in Bloemfontein granted the preservation order on the frozen funds, which were found in Halimmah’s bank account. According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli, the preservation order ensures that the money remains frozen as investigators continue to gather evidence.
As the case progresses, Halimmah, along with her two alleged accomplices, faces charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The trio is set to appear in the Botshabelo Magistrate’s Court, where the prosecution will lay out the evidence against them. The investigation into the murder-for-pension scheme continues, and authorities are working diligently to ensure that justice is served.
