But BOSETU did not anticipate that some of its members, in conjunction with other people, would design elaborate schemes meant to fraudulently obtain money from its funeral scheme.
This came to the fore this week when two people, a 45-year-old teacher, Loonyatsang Phoga, and a 42-year-old unemployed man, Motswela Othusitse, appeared in court for a battery of charges stemming from allegedly obtaining money from BOFUS through fraudulent means.
In the first count, Phoga, a teacher at Pandagala Junior Secondary School in Tutume, and Othusitse, are charged with uttering a false document.
The State alleges that during a date unknown to the State in 2018, the duo acting jointly with common intent and without any lawful excuse, they knowingly uttered a false death certificate bearing serial number 3359267 with certificate number D18/0062841/2018 and the deceased being one Hope Kago Richard and erased the birth registration of one Katlego Angel Mogorosi attempting to act on the same claiming money from BOSETU. Phoga is charged with obtaining by false pretence in the second count.
According to the particulars of the offence, sometime in 2018, by false pretence and with intent to defraud BOSETU, Phoga allegedly obtained P15, 000 and delivered a death certificate of serial number 3359267 with certificate number D18/009284841/2018 bearing the names of Hope Kago Richard and erased the birth registration of Katlego Angel Mogorosi.
Thirdly, Phoga and Othusitse are charged with forgery.
The State alleges that sometime in 2018 acting jointly and with a common intent, Phoga and Othusitse forged a death certificate of one Hope Kago Richard of serial number 3359267 with certificate number D18/0092848481 purporting it to be certifying the death of Hope Kago Richard who was in fact alive during the time in question.
A charge of uttering a false document has been levelled against Phoga and Othusitse in the fourth count.
The State alleges that sometime in 2017 acting jointly with a common purpose and without any lawful excuse, Phoga and Othusitse uttered a false document with intent to use the false death certificate of one Nelson Phoga of serial number 3433791 and certificate number D24/00507375 to claim a funeral cover from BOSETU, which serial number and certificate number in fact belongs to one deceased Chiponyi Kapepa.
In the fifth count, Phoga is charged with obtaining by false pretence. The State alleges that sometime in 2017 with intent to defraud BOSETU, Phoga obtained P35, 000 and delivered a certificate of serial number 3433791 with certificate number D24/0057375/2018 bearing the names of Nelson Phoga and erased those of Chiponyi Kapepa.
In the last count, Phoga and Othusitse are charged with forgery. According to the particulars of the offence, sometime in 2017, acting jointly and with a common purpose, Phoga and Othusitse allegedly forged a death certificate of one Nelson Phoga of serial number D3433791 and certificate number D24/00507375/2018 purporting it to certify the death of Nelson Phoga who was in fact alive during the time in question.
When Phoga and Othusitse appeared before Chief Magistrate Game Mooketsi, their attorney Mishingo Jeremia said he was recently instructed by the accused to represent them. Mooketsi set August 27 for Phoga and Othusitse to appear for status update.
