In a bizarre and deeply unsettling incident that has gripped South Africa and exploded across social media, two women have been arrested after carrying the body of their deceased grandmother into a Capitec Bank branch in Stanger, KwaDukuza, in what police describe as a desperate — and criminal — protest over a delayed funeral policy payout.
The dramatic confrontation unfolded on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, shortly after 10:00, at the Capitec branch on Chief Albert Luthuli Street in the heart of Stanger’s CBD.
According to the police, the family had taken out two funeral policies with the bank for their grandmother. One had already been paid out; however, the second remained stalled due to verification issues, specifically an unclear stamp from the funeral parlour.
When bank staff requested further proof of death, the women left the premises. Yet they returned soon afterwards — this time with the body, wrapped in a blue plastic sheet and transported in a funeral parlour vehicle — and placed it inside the branch.
Video footage circulating widely online shows a group removing the covered remains from the vehicle and carrying them into the building, where the sight prompted immediate panic, staff and customer evacuation, and a temporary closure of the branch.
Link to video – https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSmfvUex1/
The act caused significant public disturbance, leaving those present stunned and horrified.
Consequently, the two women were arrested and charged with extortion, intimidation, and public disturbance.
The body was removed from the scene and transferred to the KwaDukuza Mortuary for further investigation. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the remains had been held at a mortuary before the incident or precisely how the family gained access to them.
Capitec Bank has since issued a measured statement expressing profound sadness over the event. In a social media post, the bank declared: “We are deeply saddened by the distressing incident that occurred at our Stanger branch in KwaDukuza. We extend our sincere condolences to the family during what is clearly an incredibly difficult and emotional time, and apologise to those affected.”
Furthermore, the bank confirmed it is cooperating fully with authorities and will ensure all processes are handled with care, dignity, and respect.
It has not, however, released a detailed public response to the specifics of the funeral policy dispute itself.
The charges of extortion, intimidation and public disturbance reflect the seriousness with which police view the deliberate act of bringing a deceased body into a public banking hall to pressure staff over a claim.
While the women’s actions were evidently intended to force a resolution, they crossed into criminal territory by creating fear, disrupting business operations and violating public order. The two women remain in custody and are due to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 19 February 2026, as the investigation into the precise circumstances — including access to the body — continues.
Two women brought a body into a Capitec Bank branch in Stanger, KwaDukuza, during a dispute, leading to their arrest.
The incident went viral after videos showed the body being carried into the bank, causing widespread shock.
Yes, two women were arrested and charged with extortion, intimidation, and public disturbance.
Stanger is a town in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
2 Responses
This is how far public service have pushed customers to act. The fact that ppl took this action makes me question 1) their mental health during this difficult time.
2) what have previous interactions at this branch lead ppl to come to thia conclusion
3) can they be charged criminally when public services either private or state has declined so much that customers dont feel valued or heard.
4)if one policy has been approved how can the 2nd policy be flagged and not proceed if they all use the same paper work.
This just shows that mental health in South Africa is not taken seriously enough, and more should be done
No I have heard everything