Northern Cape, South Africa – Calvinia Magistrate Court has convicted Dawn Celeste Pieterson, 45, on nine counts of fraud and two counts of violating the Birth and Death Registration Act. The charges relate to sections 99, 103, and 224 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977 and Section 31 (1) (d) of Act 51 of 1992.
The offences occurred between February 2019 and September 2022 while Pieterson was employed at the Department of Home Affairs in Calvinia. Her role granted her access to the national population register.
Authorities say Pieterson obtained funeral cover policies from reputable insurance companies, naming herself as the beneficiary. She then issued false BI-1663 forms, declaring living individuals deceased. This manipulation caused significant disruption to the affected individuals, who were incorrectly recorded as dead in the national system.
Sentencing has been scheduled for 26 January 2026.
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