Couple convicted for murder plead for leniency

The defense in the murder trial of convicted killer couple, Sibusiso and Lerato Mahlangu, has urged the Pretoria High Court to show leniency, requesting a 15-year sentence for the couple. 

The duo was found guilty in November for murdering Lerato’s ex-partner, Sibusiso Sithebe, and faking Sibusiso’s death as part of a brazen insurance scam – spanning three cities.

While Sibusiso has confessed to the crime, citing emotional distress caused by his wife’s affair with the deceased, Lerato has consistently maintained her innocence.

She denies any involvement in the tragic events of that night, despite being the one to invite Sithebe to her home before his death.

The case has left a family devastated, with relatives hoping that a final court decision will offer some sense of closure. 

With sentencing scheduled to begin tomorrow, the couple faces the possibility of life behind bars.

Lerato, who took the stand again as pre-sentencing proceedings continued, has expressed regret only for one action that is bringing Sithebe to her home that fateful evening. 

She’s rejected accusations that she helped douse Sithebe’s body in petrol, remove his clothing, or assist in placing her husband’s underwear and wedding ring on the deceased’s charred remains. 

She claimed that she invited Sithebe over not with the intention to kill him but to allow him and her husband to have a confrontation about their extramarital affair.

Mahlangu further denied falsely identifying the body of her ex-partner as her husband’s, even though multiple witness testimonies suggest otherwise. 

Judge Mokhine Mosopa has shown frustration with what he perceives as a lack of full transparency from the accused, hinting at a possible influence on the final sentencing.

In addition to her claims of innocence, Lerato’s defence has revealed that she suffers from lupus cancer.  

The young mother expressed hopes that this condition will lead to a more lenient sentence, which would allow her to receive necessary medical treatment while serving her time.

The case has highlighted issues beyond just the murder, especially its impact on children. 

The Teddy Bear Clinic has raised concerns about the long-term emotional and psychological damage inflicted on children who witness violence and loss in their homes.

As children continue to lose one or both parents due to domestic violence, the clinic has warned that such experiences normalise violence as a means of resolving conflict. 

In this case, the Mahlangu couple’s actions have left their 12-year-old daughter without both parents —with her mother now facing a lengthy prison sentence, and her father dead.

Teddy Bear Clinic’s Dr Shaheda Omar has expressed deep concern for the young girl’s future, stating that she will likely struggle with trust issues and emotional trauma as she grows up without the stability of her parents.

“The emotional scars left by witnessing such violence, especially from a parent, are long-lasting,” Dr Omar explained. “The child will face enormous challenges in trusting caretakers and forming healthy relationships as she moves forward in life.”