Soshanguve Couple Sentenced to Life for Insurance Murder

A Soshanguve couple, Sibusiso and Lerato Mahlangu, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of Lerato’s ex-partner in a plot to cash in on an insurance policy.

The Pretoria High Court delivered the verdict on Friday, concluding a trial that exposed a chilling scheme of greed and betrayal. The Mahlangu couple was found guilty of orchestrating the murder of Thabo Mokoena, Lerato’s former partner, in 2023. Evidence presented in court revealed that they took out a life insurance policy on Mokoena without his knowledge and later arranged his murder to claim the payout.

Judge Nompumelelo Sithole described the crime as “cold and calculated,” emphasizing that the couple showed no remorse. “This was a deliberate act driven by financial gain, with total disregard for human life,” she said during sentencing.

According to investigators, Mokoena was lured to an isolated area under false pretenses, where he was brutally attacked and left for dead. His body was discovered days later, leading to an extensive police investigation that uncovered the fraudulent insurance policy and incriminating messages between the Mahlangu couple.

The prosecution welcomed the life sentences, calling it a victory for justice. “This should serve as a warning that those who commit such heinous crimes for financial gain will face the full might of the law,” said state prosecutor Themba Dlamini.

Mokoena’s family expressed relief at the sentencing, though they remain devastated by their loss. “No amount of jail time will bring Thabo back, but at least justice has been served,” said his grieving sister, Nomsa Mokoena.

The case has highlighted concerns over insurance fraud and contract killings, with authorities urging insurers to tighten verification processes to prevent similar crimes.