South African Woman and Husband Convicted of Killing Her Ex-Boyfriend for Insurance Money

A South African couple has been found guilty of murdering the wife’s ex-boyfriend, burning his body, and later claiming over R500,000 from his life insurance.

The Pretoria High Court convicted Sibusiso Mahlangu (34) and Lerato Mahlangu (33) from Soshanguve of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and three counts of fraud.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed the conviction in a statement on Wednesday, November 19, 2024, revealing that the case involved a sinister plot devised by the couple.

Before marrying Sibusiso Mahlangu, Lerato Mahlangu had been in a relationship with the deceased, Sibusiso Sithebe, with whom she has a young child.

On January 2, 2022, the Mahlangu couple lured Sibusiso Sithebe to their home in Soshanguve, where they murdered him. They staged the scene by placing Sibusiso Mahlangu’s ring on Sithebe’s finger, dressing him in Mahlangu’s clothing, and burning the body inside the house.

Lerato Mahlangu then pretended to arrive from Kwa-Mhlanga in Mpumalanga after hearing about the fire. She falsely identified the charred body as her husband to the police, preventing Sithebe’s family from recognizing him at the scene.

Following this, Lerato filed three fraudulent insurance claims with Old Mutual, where she worked as a sales consultant. On January 6, 2022, she claimed a total of R575,000, including life cover (R500,000), funeral cover (R25,000), and a death benefit (R50,000).

The plot unraveled when Sibusiso Mahlangu was arrested on April 18, 2023, for possession of a stolen car in Hammanskraal. During the arrest, authorities discovered that he had been registered as deceased. Lerato was arrested two days later, on April 20, 2023.

In court, the couple pleaded not guilty and denied involvement in the crimes. However, the State, led by Advocate Vusumuzi Tshabalala, presented compelling evidence and credible witnesses, including Sibusiso Mahlangu’s mother, who testified about the events surrounding the funeral.

Due to Covid-19 regulations, the family could not view the body closely, reinforcing their belief that they were burying her son.

Judge Papi Masopa, in his ruling, found the circumstantial evidence presented by the State to be strong and concluded that the case had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The witnesses were found credible and reliable. The case has been postponed until November 22, 2024, for a provisional sentencing date.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the conviction as an important step in delivering justice for the family of the deceased.