South African Lawyer Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For The Murder of His Girlfriend

The South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, has convicted and sentenced Thubelihle Sbonakaliso Mpisi, a South African lawyer, to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend, Mahlako Malebo Rabalao, whose burnt remains were discovered in her Mercedes-Benz in Midrand in March 2023.

Justice of the High Court found Mpisi guilty of murder, malicious damage to property, and defeating the administration of justice, after prosecutors established that Rabalao was killed before her body and vehicle were set ablaze in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Rabalao, a 26‑year‑old IT specialist and mother of a three‑year‑old child, had reportedly informed relatives and friends of her intention to end the relationship and move out of Mpisi’s apartment shortly before her death.

The conviction was secured through cellphone records, forensic analysis, expert testimony, and Mpisi’s conduct before and after the incident. He was arrested in KwaZulu‑Natal after a four‑month investigation and had remained in custody since July 2023.Despite publicly mourning Rabalao on social media prior to his arrest, investigators uncovered evidence linking him directly to the crime.

On 4 August 2026, the court imposed a sentence of life imprisonment, underscoring the gravity of the offence and the deliberate attempt to obstruct justice.

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