A TSHWANE couple accused of a crime similar to Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magudumani's escape plot briefly appeared in the Soshanguve Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 29 November, on allegations of premeditated murder.
Lerato Mahlangu (32) has been charged with murdering her previous boyfriend, Sibusiso Sithebe, to fake the death of her present husband for policy payouts.
Tiny Khumalo (63), aunt of the deceased, couldn’t help but swear at the accused when their case was remanded to 13 December while the court awaited the date to transfer the case to the High Court.
“I wish that the court would just grant them bail instead of tormenting us in this manner with these endless postponements,” she said.
Griffiths Mkhabela, a family friend and neighbour, stated that the police official who confirmed and released Sethebe's body with an incorrect identification should accept responsibility, take account and face criminal charges.
“We had to wait from May to August for us to exhume, and re-burry our child on the same graveyard."
He concluded that the endless postponement caused the family more pain and suffering.
"This simply means that there are a lot of people who are hurried wrongfully at Soshanguve cemetery," he said. Griffiths added that it is either pure carelessness and incompetence or that the police officer might be an accomplice on the matter.
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On 2 January 2022, it's alleged that Lerato and her husband, Sibusiso Mahlangu (33), a co-accused in the case, murdered Sithebe and burned his body in the residence where she lived with her husband in Block HH, Soshanguve.
Following that, it was reported that Lerato obtained a forged death certificate from the Department of Home Affairs, saying that her husband, Sibusiso, died in the fire and then claimed life insurance.
On 20 April 2023, the pair was apprehended after Sibusiso was discovered in possession of a stolen vehicle in Hammanskraal.
It was determined during his arrest and processing that he was registered as deceased.
His family was devastated when it was discovered that he was buried in a Soshanguve graveyard.
They were even more shocked to find that his killing had been orchestrated by Lerato, the mother of his 10-year-old daughter and her husband.
Sithebe's remains were dug out and reburied in August by his family after DNA proved it was his.
"She also requested bail because she wants to provide for her family as the sole breadwinner, and her incarceration has a financial impact on her family," National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Lumka Mahanjana said.
Lerato stated that her minor child has been placed in the care of her ailing grandma since her arrest.
"However, state prosecutor Luyanda Nkwale opposed her bail application and presented the investigating officer's affidavit, stating that though Mahlangu had a clean criminal record, there was the likelihood that she would evade trial as she is facing a Schedule 6 offence and might also interfere with state witnesses," Mahanjana said.
The magistrate stated that the accused provided no proof that exceptional circumstances existed, allowing her release on bail in the interests of justice.
Lerato was denied bail on November 2nd, while Sibusiso abandoned his bail application on May 18th.
They both remain in custody.
