KEY POINTS
- The sentencing of Sibusiso and Lerato Mahlangu, convicted of murdering Lerato’s ex-partner for an insurance payout, was postponed to March 5, 2024, due to the prosecutor’s illness.
- The couple, who initially maintained their innocence, confessed to their roles in the murder during the mitigation phase, sparking questions about their remorse.
- The victim’s family expressed frustration over the prolonged legal process, while the case has reignited discussions about insurance fraud and violent crime in South Africa.
The sentencing of a Soshanguve couple, Sibusiso and Lerato Mahlangu, who were convicted for the insurance murder of Lerato’s ex-partner, was postponed on Wednesday, further prolonging the emotional ordeal for the victim’s family and friends.
The Soshanguve couple was found guilty in November by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and fraud for killing Sibusiso Sithebe and passing off his body as Sibusiso Mahlangu‘s to claim R575,000 from a life insurance policy.
The gruesome crime, which took place in January 2022, shocked the community and highlighted the lengths to which individuals might go for financial gain.
The court heard how the couple meticulously planned the murder, disguising Sithebe’s body as Sibusiso Mahlangu’s to fraudulently claim the insurance payout. The insurer paid out the claim before the truth unraveled during a police investigation.
On Wednesday, shortly after the matter was called before Judge Mokhine Mosopa, Adv David Molokomme, who appeared on behalf of state counsel Adv Vusimuzi Tshabalala, informed the court about Tshabalala’s inability to attend proceedings. “My lord, I am standing in for my colleague. He is not feeling well, but we [state and defence] have agreed on the date, which is March 5 and 7, for continuation,” Molokomme said. This latest delay added to the frustration of Sithebe’s loved ones, who have been waiting for closure since the trial began.
