A South African mother, Shayhieda Dollie, 49, of Gelvandale in Gqeberha in Eastern Cape Province, stands accused of orchestrating the murder of her 22-year-old son, Moegamat Thaafir Dollie, for a purported profit of R1.62 million.
Dollie appeared in the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court on Friday, facing charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The alleged premeditated killing occurred on 28 October 2024.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, Dollie, an unemployed woman, had been struggling with her son’s drug addiction and perceived disruptive behaviour at home.
“Dollie, an unemployed woman, had been experiencing problems with her son, who struggled with drug addiction and was considered a nuisance at home. Seeking advice, she allegedly consulted with various people who suggested a ‘permanent solution’,” Tyali explained.
This “permanent solution,” it is alleged, involved a meticulously planned murder.
The NPA alleges that Dollie, with the assistance of two individuals known only as “Shaun” and “Oompie,” hired hitmen from Johannesburg. The initial agreement was for R80,000, but due to Dollie’s alleged procrastination, the price escalated to R380,000.
“The accused then allegedly orchestrated a plan with two individuals known as ‘Shaun’ and ‘Oompie’, hiring hitmen from Johannesburg for an initial R80 000, later increased to R380 000 due to her procrastination,” Tyali stated. The alleged plan was chillingly simple yet effective.
The hitmen were able to lure Moegamat to his death by exploiting his vulnerability.
“The plan unfolded when Dollie told her son he had a job interview, and the perpetrators picked him up, ultimately leading to his murder,” Tyali said.
Moegamat was found murdered, sustaining gunshot wounds to his head and neck. The alleged motive for this heinous act was financial gain.
The state alleges that Dollie’s primary motivation was to claim a R2 million life insurance policy on her son’s life. A significant portion of this payout was intended to cover the cost of the hitmen.
“The motive was allegedly to claim R2-million in life insurance, which would be used to pay the hitmen. And the state opposed bail on the matter, which has been postponed to November 15 for profile verification purposes,” Tyali confirmed.
The case against Dollie is further strengthened by the fact that the state is opposing bail. The postponement of the case to November 15th, 2024, is for profile verification purposes. This suggests a thorough investigation is underway, leaving little room for doubt regarding the seriousness of the charges. The details of the case are deeply disturbing, revealing a mother’s alleged willingness to sacrifice her own son for financial gain.
This case is not an isolated incident. Another recent case involves a 43-year-old Limpopo police officer detained on suspicion of killing six people, allegedly to fraudulently benefit from insurance payouts totalling at least R10 million. The officer, arrested after reporting for duty at the Senwabarwana police station, allegedly began her killing spree in 2019.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the arrest followed a lengthy investigation into allegations of fraudulent claims from various banks and insurance companies. These cases highlight a disturbing trend of individuals exploiting insurance policies for personal gain, often at the cost of innocent lives.
