Lerato and Sibusiso Mahlangu from Soshanguve, Pretoria, are facing serious charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and two counts of fraud following their arrest in April 2023. The case began after an unexpected twist when Sibusiso was arrested in a stolen car, revealing a shocking crime that had been concealed for over a year.
The arrest occurred after Sibusiso Mahlangu was caught driving a stolen vehicle, and police discovered his fingerprints matched those of a man they believed had died in a house fire in January 2022. It was initially thought that the body recovered from the fire belonged to Sibusiso, but it later emerged that it was actually Sibusiso Sithebe, Lerato’s former lover and the father of her child.
Lerato had filed for an insurance payout, claiming the death of her husband, Sibusiso, after the fire. She fraudulently obtained a death certificate under his name, which allowed her to pocket R626,718 in insurance claims. In the aftermath, Sibusiso fled to Mpumalanga to avoid detection.
The couple’s plot unraveled when police discovered the stolen vehicle and linked Sibusiso to the crime. During his detention, Sibusiso reportedly confessed to the murder of Sithebe, though his defense team claims he was coerced into the admission.
At the Pretoria High Court, a trial-within-a-trial has begun to determine the admissibility of Sibusiso’s confession. He denied involvement in the murder, claiming police pressure led him to implicate himself.
The Mahlangus face growing public anger, particularly from Sithebe’s family. His sister, Nina, expressed outrage outside the court, demanding harsh consequences for the couple’s actions. “There is no logic why they killed my brother… they are even pleading not guilty despite the evidence,” she said.
As the trial continues, the Mahlangus’ fate remains in the hands of the court, with the trial expected to resume on Friday.