we can't get our money

My name is Alice. We opened a stokvel account where we help each other with funeral expenses when one of us or close members of our families pass. I opened the account with Emma and Nomathemba. Nomathemba later resigned from this society and relocated to KZN. Emma passed on on the 15th of March, now we need money for her burial but Standard Bank won't release our funds because they want Nomathemba physically here, how are we going to do that when she left Gauteng for good and is no longer a member of our society? Please assist as we urgently need funds for our members funeral.