New evidence comes to light in David Manuel murder case
The state alleges that the pair changed the policies four days before Manuel's murder, to double the payouts in case of an accidental death.
Wanda and Sindiswa Mbele appeared in the Athlone Magistrates Court on 21 November 2024. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/EWN
CAPE TOWN - New evidence has come to light in the case of two siblings accused of fraudulently taking out funeral insurance policies on Noem My Skollie actor, David Manuel.
Initially, it was understood that Wanda and Sindiswa Mbele would be charged with murder.
However, they are currently facing only fraud charges in connection with two funeral policies in the deceased's name.
READ: David Manuel murder: State confident it has strong case against siblings
The State alleges that the pair changed the policies four days before Manuel's murder, to double the payouts in case of an accidental death.
The State has submitted into evidence, screenshots of WhatsApp messages and voice notes, allegedly between Wanda and Sindiswa Mbele.
[VIDEO] Wanda Mbele, accused of fraud and money laundering in the case of murdered Cape Town actor, David Manuel, broke down in tears when their case was postponed to next week Tuesday for bail judgement pic.twitter.com/tMxTLaJlPb
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 27, 2024
[IN PICTURES] The state also brought new evidence in a form of WhatsApp messages between the siblings. The state says the messages and voice-notes support its case pic.twitter.com/ZaLZUZTqzO
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 27, 2024
The State said the chats showed that the siblings knew about the deceased's death four days before he was killed.
It said that the chats further showed that the accused knew that David and his brother, Patrick Manuel, were going to be killed soon and that Wanda Mbele had both policies amended for a larger payout.
The State also submitted into evidence a screenshot of an email allegedly sent by Wanda to Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, four days after Manuel's murder, pleading for assistance with the burial.
[VIDEO] She says she was given guardianship of the Manuel brothers by the mother before she passed away. Nomhle Mbele says she took Patrick Manuel in when he was still young while his brother David was in and out of prison pic.twitter.com/Z1K7BS8Jue
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 27, 2024