AFTER first refusing to repair Annie Phungula's fire-damaged house, Absa says it will review its earlier decision.
This follows a Sowetan report that Annie was set alight, allegedly by her ex-husband Bossie Phungula, in July last year.
"We acknowledge the sensitivity regarding the matter and we will be liaising with the executor of the estate directly to resolve the matter amicably," Absa spokesperson Khulani Qoma said.
After the attack Annie spent four months in hospital before she died.
After Annie's death, her sister, Lillian Ntoagae, executrix of the estate, then wrote to Absa asking the bank to repair the house, but the bank refused.
Annie's house in Geluksdal, Ekurhuleni, was insured by Absa.
In their letter, dated November 22 2010, the bank declined liability of the claim, stating that the fire that damaged Annie's house was deliberate.
Absa claims manager Christel Erasmus said in terms of the policy agreement, damage caused by Annie or any member of the family would not be covered.
But Ntoagae argued that at the time of the incident, the couple was already divorced and that Bossie was angered because Annie had obtained a court order telling him to vacate the house.
"Instead of vacating the house, Bossie stabbed my sister and poured petrol all over her body and set her alight. The house also caught fire and this left the couple's children homeless," she said.
But this explanation did not satisfy Absa and the bank stuck to its earlier decision not to fix the house.
The bank advised Ntoagae to contact the ombudsman for short-term insurance if she was dissatisfied, which she did.
Her request for the intervention of the ombudsman was also declined.
"It is common cause that the house was set alight by the deceased's husband and I will therefore not be able to fault the decision by Absa to reject the claim," said Wynand van Vuuren.
Bank to review claim on gutted house
AFTER first refusing to repair Annie Phungula's fire-damaged house, Absa says it will review its earlier decision.
This follows a Sowetan report that Annie was set alight, allegedly by her ex-husband Bossie Phungula, in July last year.
"We acknowledge the sensitivity regarding the matter and we will be liaising with the executor of the estate directly to resolve the matter amicably," Absa spokesperson Khulani Qoma said.
After the attack Annie spent four months in hospital before she died.
After Annie's death, her sister, Lillian Ntoagae, executrix of the estate, then wrote to Absa asking the bank to repair the house, but the bank refused.
Annie's house in Geluksdal, Ekurhuleni, was insured by Absa.
In their letter, dated November 22 2010, the bank declined liability of the claim, stating that the fire that damaged Annie's house was deliberate.
Absa claims manager Christel Erasmus said in terms of the policy agreement, damage caused by Annie or any member of the family would not be covered.
But Ntoagae argued that at the time of the incident, the couple was already divorced and that Bossie was angered because Annie had obtained a court order telling him to vacate the house.
"Instead of vacating the house, Bossie stabbed my sister and poured petrol all over her body and set her alight. The house also caught fire and this left the couple's children homeless," she said.
But this explanation did not satisfy Absa and the bank stuck to its earlier decision not to fix the house.
The bank advised Ntoagae to contact the ombudsman for short-term insurance if she was dissatisfied, which she did.
Her request for the intervention of the ombudsman was also declined.
"It is common cause that the house was set alight by the deceased's husband and I will therefore not be able to fault the decision by Absa to reject the claim," said Wynand van Vuuren.
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