Three members of a Chatsworth family have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of their nanny, 52-year-old Rashree Dwarika, whom they employed with the sole intention of killing for a R750,000 life insurance payout.
The convicted killers, Amdhew Chuttergoon, his wife Managie Jessica Chuttergoon, both 49, and their daughter Thurashni Naidoo, claimed Dwarika drowned in a swimming pool accident at a holiday home in Umzumbe, South Africa, in June 2023. However, Judge Garth Harrison of the Port Shepstone High Court ruled that the evidence showed it was a calculated and premeditated killing.
The family had specifically sought a nanny who was single and without close family ties, making her less likely to be missed. Shortly after employing Dwarika in May 2023, they forged her signature to take out a life insurance policy in her name. Evidence showed that neither she nor her family had any knowledge of the policy.
One of the most damning pieces of evidence was a WhatsApp message sent by Naidoo, which read: “She better do the bloods. I need her to kick the bucket.” Judge Harrison said this message revealed their clear intent.
The court also heard that days before Dwarika’s death, Naidoo called Discovery Life pretending to be the nanny, asking to backdate the policy by paying a double premium — further exposing the fraudulent plan.
Dwarika drowned on June 25, just days before the policy was due to take effect. Although her death was initially recorded as accidental, state prosecutors argued successfully that she had been deliberately killed.
The family attempted to claim the R750,000 payout but their claim was rejected amid suspicions, leading to their arrest in September 2023. They were denied bail and remained in custody until trial.
Passing sentence, Judge Harrison described their crime as “premeditated and heinous,” noting they had treated a human life as nothing more than a financial transaction.
A police investigator close to the case summed up: “This was a calculated and callous crime. They treated a human life as a mere transaction, and today, they have been made to pay the ultimate price.”
