A South African court has sentenced attorney Thubelihle Sbonakaliso Mpisi (30) to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Mahlako Malebo Rabalao, and attempting to cover up the crime by burning her body inside her Mercedes-Benz.
The Johannesburg High Court heard that Rabalao’s charred remains were discovered in her vehicle in Midrand in March 2023. Evidence presented during the trial proved that Mpisi killed her before setting the vehicle alight in an effort to destroy evidence.
Following an extensive police investigation, Mpisi was arrested several months later. He remained in custody throughout the trial after withdrawing his bail application.
The court imposed a life sentence for the murder, bringing to a close a case that attracted widespread public attention in South Africa.
