The family of Sibusiso Sithebe, who was brutally murdered in an insurance fraud scheme, says their long fight for justice has finally come to an end. Now, all they seek is peace and a way to heal from their loss.
On Friday, the Pretoria High Court sentenced couple Lerato and Sibusiso Mahlangu to life imprisonment for the murder of Sithebe in January 2022. The pair were found guilty of killing Lerato’s ex-lover and attempting to pass his body off as that of her husband to fraudulently claim an insurance payout of approximately R500,000.
The case was exposed when Sibusiso Mahlangu was arrested while driving a stolen vehicle. When police ran his fingerprints, they uncovered the shocking truth behind Sithebe’s murder.
Sithebe’s brother, Xolani, expressed relief that justice had been served. “We will at least have peace in our hearts and try to move on because it’s been a long road,” he said.
He added that while the guilty verdict brought some closure, the emotional scars remain. “We are happy that justice has been served, considering the fact that they lied for such a long time, and now we know what actually transpired.”
Xolani emphasized that the family still struggles to cope with the loss and needs professional help to heal. “We have not got over his passing. If we were financially stable or had resources, we would go see a therapist or psychologist as our way to find closure and heal emotionally—especially for his children.”
As the family comes to terms with the tragedy, they hope to find support in their journey toward healing after the devastating betrayal and loss.