AFTER 10 months of struggling to get a funeral insurance payout after her daughter's death, a Mpumalanga woman has finally been paid - thanks to Sowetan.

Minah Swele of Lefiso village in Marapyane, Hammanskraal, has been struggling to get a payout from Hollard since September 2010, after her daughter Johanna Swele's death.

Johanna had bought the Kaizer Chiefs Funeral Cover from Hollard in 2008 and had promptly paid her monthly premiums.

Her policy, underwritten by Hollard, stipulated a R10,000 payout if she died of natural causes and R20,000 if she had an accidental death.

Swele said the pain of her daughter's death of natural causes - was worsened by the company's failure to payout.

But Hollard claims that the family failed to provide all the necessary paperwork after Johanna's death. Swele denies this.

"We contacted Hollard immediately after Johanna died and they faxed some documents for me to sign and to fax back to them," Minah said.

"We were told that the money would be paid within 48 hours, but those hours turned into days, weeks and months. They sent us from pillar to post.We nearly gave up," she said.

This week Swele asked Sowetan to help her family.

Hollard spokesperson, Allim Malaza, confirmed that they had received Swele's claim in September 2010. But he said the family did not provide all the required documentation, including their banking details and a letter of executorship.

"We duly informed the family about the outstanding paperwork in November, but we did not receive further correspondence until now, when they lodged a complaint via Sowetan," Malaza said.

"We have waived the requirement for the outstanding paperwork and paid the amount due to her family," he said.

A delighted Swele said: "Thank you Sowetan,"

"What we could not manage in 10 months, you managed to get in a day. Keep up the good work," she said.