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“I was under his mercy,” claims woman married to ‘Kasi Bester’

todayJanuary 29, 2025 67

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In a stunning turn of events, convicted murderer Lerato Mahlangu has confessed that her initial testimony was a fabrication. 

Mahlangu, who was found guilty of premeditated murder alongside her husband, Sibusiso, in November, made the shocking admission during pre-sentencing proceedings at the Pretoria High Court.

Mahlangu told the court that her initial testimony was a web of deceit, aimed at concealing the truth behind the brutal murder of her lover and first-born child’s father, Sibusiso Sithebe, whose body was used to claim a hefty R 575 000 insurance payout.

The court heard that Mahlangu’s husband, Sibusiso, had orchestrated the scheme, threatening his wife into going along with the plot or face a similar fate as her lover.

Sithebe was lured to the Mahlangu residence in January 2022, where Lerato got him intoxicated before her husband carried out the murder, burning him alive.

In a disturbing twist, it emerged that the couple’s two pre-teen daughters were drawn into the deception, forced to call their father “Angel” to conceal his identity from family members who believed he was dead.

Lerato claimed that she had lied to the court out of fear for her life, alleging that her husband had threatened to kill her if she didn’t corroborate his story.

She detailed how Mahlangu became increasingly abusive after finding out about the affair. 

“I was under his mercy. He had a way he would talk to me where I would feel belittled,” she told the court. 

“He told me it’s my fault that the father of my child has died. He said if people should blame anyone it should be me, because if I had been faithful in our marriage none of that would have happened,” she added. 

The prosecution, however, questioned Mahlangu’s motives, asking why she had never gone to the police with the truth if she genuinely feared for her life.

 State Prosecutor, Vusimuzi Tshabalala, further probed why Lerato had not confided in her lawyer.

The case has sparked widespread outrage, with Sithebe’s relatives calling for the killer couple to spend their lives behind bars.

 The Pretoria High Court will continue to hear testimony in the coming days, with the Mahlangus looking to plead their final case for why they should be given a lenient sentence.

Written by: Naomi Kobbie

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