Hlompho Mohapi‚ 25‚ was found brutally murdered on a gravel road in Herolds Bay‚ near George on the Garden Route‚ on July 5.

The trio arrested in connection with the murder - pastor Melisizwe Monqo‚ 30‚ from King Williams Town‚ his fiancée Siphosile Pamba‚ 23‚ and the pastor’s cousin Phumlani Qusheka‚ 28 - are applying to be released on bail in the George Magistrate’s Court.

Details of a well-orchestrated plan to fraudulently take out life insurance on Mohapi were revealed when investigating officer Detective Constable Thembekile Matwa testified during the hearing last week.

The George Herald reported that Mongo and Pamba allegedly took out life insurance policies telephonically on several people.

Two life insurance policies‚ worth a combined value of R3.2-million‚ and a funeral policy worth R50‚000 were taken out on Mohapi two days before she died.

The day before she died‚ Mohapi underwent a blood test – taken in a vehicle outside a shopping centre - for a “job interview” at George Airport. No evidence of a job offered on that day could be found‚ but a blood test was required for one of the insurance policies‚ said the investigating officer.

Police believe that Monqo and Pamba impersonated their victims in telephone conversations with insurance companies.

Mohapi's mother‚ Patricia Koloi‚ said in an earlier interview with the George Herald after the murder: “I don't understand who would do such a thing. She still had her entire life ahead of her and she had dreams for the future.”

The bail hearing continues on Tuesday.