Soshanguve Man Accused of Faking His Death Testifies in Court

 

A Soshanguve man, Sibusiso Mahlangu, accused of staging his own death after allegedly murdering his wife’s ex-boyfriend, Sibusiso Sithebe, revealed in court that he was devastated upon discovering his wife’s affair with the victim.

Mahlangu testified that learning of his wife Lerato's infidelity left him feeling like a failure, ultimately causing him to leave their marital home.

Mahlangu and Lerato are currently on trial for the murder of Sithebe, who was killed in January 2022, with his body allegedly burned in an attempt to pass it off as Mahlangu’s. This deception reportedly led to Lerato receiving a R500,000 insurance payout from a life cover policy.

In his testimony on October 1, Mahlangu described the events surrounding Sithebe’s death. He stated that he discovered the affair on the same day the murder occurred. "We were preparing to go to my mother's house for a New Year's lunch with my wife and two kids. That day, I wasn’t happy because I found out that my wife was cheating," Mahlangu recounted.

During the family gathering, Mahlangu admitted feeling detached from Lerato, choosing to sit next to his sister instead. Later, while escorting Lerato to the taxi rank for her trip to Mpumalanga, she reportedly attempted to explain her infidelity. Mahlangu said he dropped her off, left his car at a mechanic, and went to a friend’s house in Silverton to reflect, overwhelmed with feelings of failure and betrayal.

Mahlangu was arrested in April 2023 in Hammanskraal after being found with a stolen vehicle belonging to his then-girlfriend. Both he and Lerato now face charges for Sithebe's murder. The trial is ongoing.