South African Lawyer Jailed For Life For Killing Girlfriend, Burning Body In Car

A South African High Court has sentenced attorney Thubelihle Sbonakaliso Mpisi to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend, Mahlako Malebo Rabalao, whose burnt remains were found inside her Mercedes Benz in Johannesburg.

The South Gauteng High Court convicted Mpisi of murder, malicious damage to property and defeating the administration of justice. He had remained in custody since his arrest in July 2023 after abandoning his bail application.

Prosecutors told the court that although medical experts could not determine the exact cause of death because of the extensive burns, forensic evidence, cellphone records, expert testimony and the defendant’s conduct proved that Rabalao died before her body and vehicle were set on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.

The court also heard that Rabalao, a 26 year old IT specialist and mother of Mpisi’s three year old son, had informed family and friends that she planned to end the relationship and move out of their shared apartment before she was killed.

Before his arrest, Mpisi publicly mourned Rabalao on social media and expressed shock over her death. However, after months of investigation, authorities arrested him in KwaZulu Natal, leading to his conviction and life sentence.