Death claim not paid out

Group Life Insurance is not paid out despite numerous requests and suggestions. PJ Loots passed away in May 2021 and a group life claim of only R34k is not paid to the surviving spouse as the deceased did not have a beneficiary. However, no Letter of Executorship is issued as the deceased had no other assets but Sanlam insist on a Letter of Executorship which is not going to happen. Sanlam wants to pay into estate bank account but even if a Letter is issued by the Master, the assets are less than R250000 and thus no bank account for the estate will be opened and in the meantime the spouse cannot access the little bit of funds she desperately needs