Pretoria – Scheming Soshanguve couple, 34-year-old Sibusiso Mahlangu and 33-year-old Lerato Mahlangu, have been found guilty of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and three counts of fraud.
The full horror of the callous murder of the wife’s ex-partner and subsequent insurance fraud orchestrated by the couple was revealed during the trial.
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Before 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 Sibusiso Mahlangu 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 was adjourned to Friday, (22 November 2024), for sentencing procedures to begin.
“The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the conviction as a significant step towards delivering justice for the family of the deceased,” said spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana.
