A South African couple have been found guilty of m8rdering the wife’s ex-boyfriend, burning his body and later claiming more than R500,000 from life insurance.
The Pretoria High Court in South Africa convicted a Soshanguve couple, Sibusiso Mahlangu (34) and Lerato Mahlangu (33), of premeditated m8rder, conspiracy to commit m8rder, and three counts of fraud.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in a statement on Wednesday, November 19, 2024, said the case stems from a heinous plot orchestrated by the couple.
Prior to her marriage to Sibusiso Mahlangu, Lerato Mahlangu was in a romantic relationship with the deceased, Sibusiso Sithebe, with whom she shares a minor child.
On 2 January 2022, the Mahlangu couple lured Sithebe to their house in Soshanguve, where they killed him. They then staged the scene by placing Sibusiso Mahlangu’s ring on the deceased’s finger, dressing him in Mahlangu’s clothing, and burning the body inside the house.
Lerato subsequently pretended to be arriving from Kwa-Mhlanga in Mpumalanga after being informed about the fire. Upon arrival, she falsely identified the body as that of her husband to the police, as such the Sithebe’s family was unable to identify the deceased at the scene.
Following this, Lerato submitted three fraudulent insurance claims with Old Mutual, where she was employed as a sales consultant. On 06 January 2022 she lodged claims amounting to a total R575,000; life cover (R500,000), funeral cover (R25,000), and a death benefit (R50,000).
The scheme unraveled when Sibusiso Mahlangu was arrested on 18 April 2023 for possession of a stolen car in Hammanskraal. During the arrest and subsequent processing, authorities discovered that he had been officially registered as deceased. Lerato was arrested two days later, on 20 April 2023.
In court, the couple pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied involvement in the crimes. However, the State, led by Advocate Vusumuzi Tshabalala, presented compelling evidence and called credible witnesses, including Sibusiso Mahlangu’s mother. She testified about events leading up to the funeral and how they were unable to view the body at close range because of Covid-19 regulations which reinforced their belief that indeed they were burying her son.
Judge Papi Masopa, in his judgment, found that though the state relied on circumstantial evidence, it was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The judge also found the State’s witnesses to be credible and reliable. The case has been postponed to 22 November 2024 for a provisional sentencing date.
