A shocking video that went viral on social media on Wednesday showed the traumatised Mtshali family from Stanger (Kwa Dukuza) in Kwa Zulu Natal dragging the dead body of their relative into Old Mutual offices after the company had refused to pay out their R30 000 claim. The family visited the Old Mutual offices in the Kwa Dukuza area on Monday, November 11 to claim the R30 000 policy pay out in order to bury their loved one.
It was the beginning of their nightmare when they were told to allow 48 hours to pass for the claim to be processed. The company initially requested proof of death from the family and were told to seek a loan since they wouldn’t be able to receive the R30 000 pay out immediately.
The members of the family returned to their offices on Wednesday and were told to allow three hours to pass, however, the Mtshali family was extremely frustrated by the Old Mutual staff and decided to return with the deceased body of Sifiso Mtshali at their offices. Upon arriving at the offices and presenting the dead body as the proof the company had been seeking their R30 000 pay out was immediately processed.
The National Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa threatens to take Old Mutual to court. Old Mutual responded to the tweet of the viral video saying it was,“most unsettling and that they were sympathetic towards the family during this difficult time.”
The Chief Communications Officer of Old Mutual, Tabby Tsengiwe further explained during an interview on 702 Talk Radio, “We have payment runs at set times. That funeral policy payment went through to the beneficiary’s Capitec account, for urgent clearing, before the family arrived with the body, but the SMS only reflected on her phone shortly afterwards. That made them believe that we only paid because they arrived at the branch with the body, which is unfortunate”.
