For over a year the Sithebe family had hoped that their missing son would come back home. Unbeknown to them, he was alleged killed, burnt beyond recognition and buried as someone else.
FAKING DEATH
Sibusiso Sithebe (32) from Soshanguve outside Tshwane went missing in January last year and it was recently discovered that his ex-girlfriend and her husband allegedly killed him, burnt his body and used it as a decoy to fake the husband's death. The couple has since been arrested and charged with murder. The Sithebe family told ZiMoja that the police informed them that they might have found their missing son after Sibusiso's ex-girlfriend Lerato, and her husband Sibusiso Mahlangu were arrested and later confessed to the crime. The couple were busted after Mahlangu was stopped by the police and they discovered that he was driving a stolen car. When they wanted to take his fingerprints, Mahlangu allegedly refused saying he was afraid they will find out he was a dead man walking. It is alleged that the couple killed Sithebe, took off Mahlangu's wedding ring and put it on the deceased finger before setting it alight inside their house. The body which was beyond recognition was buried as Mahlangu's. Lerato also registered her husband as dead and claimed death benefits.
FAMILY NEEDS ANSWERS
Speaking to ZiMoja, Sithebe's younger brother Sean Sithebe said they are still trying to process the whole thing and have a lot of unanswered questions. "I wonder what he was doing in that house, or how they lured him there. My brother and his baby mama hardly spoke, any communication about their child was mostly through our sister," he said. He added that they had broken up over 7 years ago. "Ever since they broke up, I had never seen them together. I was very close with Sibusiso, and he would have told me if they were getting back together. None of this makes any sense, "he said. Sean said he wishes to see Lerato and ask her some questions because he needs clarity and answers. "I need to know why they did this, was it for insurance money or did my brother bother them in any way. They didn't have to kill him in that manner. If I remember correctly, Lerato came looking for Sibusiso a month before he went missing and that was the first time we saw her after years since they broke up. I suspect that this was planned by the couple," Sean added.
A PEACEFUL MAN
Sean said Sibusiso was a very peaceful man who liked spending time with his family. "He is the 3rd born and I'm the last of five children but the both of us were very fond of each other. He was a taxi driver so whenever I'm not at work I'd be in the taxi working with him the whole day. I loved him very much and hope he gets justice," said Sean.
ARRESTS
Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo says that on 16 April 2023, the police in Hammanskraal received a tip-off about a suspected stolen motor vehicle. They responded swiftly and stopped the vehicle, a white VW Polo and upon inspecting the vehicle, it was confirmed that it was reported stolen in Witbank. "The driver of the vehicle was arrested and charged with possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle. Upon questioning the suspect, it was established that he allegedly killed and burned a person in Soshanguve in January 2022, before he fled to Mpumalanga. A case of murder was added," Masondo said. Masondo added that the 33-year-old suspect's wife was also arrested and charged with murder. "The suspects appeared at Soshanguve Magistrates Court on Thursday, 20 April 2023. The matter was postponed to the 4th of May 2023," Masondo said. The police said there are plans to exhume the body that was buried at Mahlangu's purported grave.
