Sibusiso Sithebe’s relatives reject ‘Kasi Bester’s’ apology

The parole officer of self-confessed killer, Sibusiso Mahlangu, has recommended that he spend the rest of his life behind bars. 

In a shocking turn of events in the Pretoria High Court today, Mahlangu confessed to killing his wife’s lover, Sibusiso Sithebe, and burning his body to claim an insurance payout. 

Mahlangu and his wife, Lerato, were found guilty of the crime in November. With a looming life sentence and despite previously pleading innocence, Mahlangu admitted to setting the deceased on fire and benefiting over half a million rand after faking his own death. 

“I am truly sorry to the Sithebe family for your loss. It wasn’t my intention to hurt anyone. I don’t know how I got to that place. For the pain that I caused, I am sorry,” he said from the dock.

Prior to the shocking confession, Probation Officer, Thokozane Mbatha, had testified that Mahlangu showed no remorse for his actions. 

Mbatha recommended a life sentence for him as a result. 

“The accused displayed a lack of caring and indicated that he would accept whatever judgment the court would impose. He displayed no empathy or concern for the victim’s family and the trauma they experienced as a result of the crimes he committed,” he told the court.

Prosecutor, Vusimuzi Tshabalala, said that the change of heart may have been an attempt to lessen the severity of his pending sentence.

 “All you want to do here, is to let the court be lenient with you,” he said.

Meanwhile, the family of Sibusiso Sithebe, whose charred remains were used as a decoy in the brazen insurance scam, say they believe more people are behind his killing. 

Xolani Sithebe described how he scoured the city’s mortuaries for over a year in search of his older brother’s body. 

He described the horror of finding out that Lerato Mahlangu was behind the killing, saying it’s only an animal who can kill the father of her child.

The Sithebe family has shrugged off Mahlangu’s apology, calling for the couple to spend their lives behind bars.

 “If he can bring back my brother, then we can try and reconcile. But he can never come back, so what forgiveness is he looking for? He must stay in jail,” said Xolani.

The matter returns to court tomorrow (Wednesday), when convicted killer Lerato takes to the stand for sentencing proceedings.