The four accused who face a string of charges relating to hit murders connected to life insurance payouts appeared in the Gqeberha High Court on Tuesday.
Siyabulela Mbane, Unathi Peter, Ntobeko, and Xolelwa Msome face at least ten charges of murder and more than 30 charges of fraud, of more than R3 million.
Other charges include racketeering, money laundering, and the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic firearm and ammunition.
The State will allege that the accused obtained funeral policies on the lives of individuals who subsequently died of unnatural causes shortly thereafter.
State Advocate Louis Sinclair told the court that the State and the defence had agreed to postpone the case for financial instructions and to establish which evidence would be placed on record and what not.
The accused allegedly ran their enterprise between July 2021 and September last year.
In certain instances, the accused were related to the deceased.
At the same time, in other cases, they allegedly misrepresented their relationship status or impersonated the lives of the insured persons to qualify for funeral policies.
According to the State, the murders were premeditated and preplanned so that the accused could enrich themselves.
Some of the insurance claims were allegedly successfully paid out to the accused.
In instances where the insurer suspected fraud, the claims were refused.
A majority of the crimes took place in Kariega, but three of the seven will also be trialed separately in the Bhisho High Court, for a murder committed in Whittlesea.
The case was remanded to 25 March.
Only Peter is out on bail.
Also read: Seven in court for alleged insurance payout murders
