Woman kills her baby daddy to fake current husband’s death

The Soshanguve magistrate’s court refused to grant bail to Lerato Mahlangu, who is accused of murdering her former partner, Sibusiso Sithebe. Mahlangu mudered Sithebe to fake her current husband’s death in order to receive insurance payouts. The woman, 32, is facing charges of premeditated murder, defeating the ends of justice, and fraud.

According to a news publication, on January 2, 2022, Lerato and her co-accused husband, Sibusiso Mahlangu, 33, killed Sithebe and burned his body at their shared residence in Block HH, Soshanguve. Subsequently, Lerato allegedly obtained a fake death certificate from the Department of Home Affairs, asserting that her husband died in the fire, and then claimed life insurance policies.

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The couple was arrested on April 20, 2023, after Mahlangu was found with a stolen car in Hammanskraal. During his arrest and processing, it was discovered that he was registered as deceased.

Sithebe went missing in January last year, and his family was devastated to discover that Lerato, the mother of his 10-year-old daughter, and her husband were responsible for his death.

Lerato Mahlangu and her co-accused husband

Sithebe’s body was exhumed and reburied by his family in August, as DNA evidence confirmed his identity.

In court, Mahlangu’s bail application affidavit indicated her intention to plead not guilty to the charges.

“She also asked to be released on bail because she wants to provide for her family as she is the sole breadwinner, and her incarceration affects her family financially,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said.

The woman said her minor child has been placed with her sickly grandmother’s care since her arrest.

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