Lawyer Jailed for Life After Publicly Mourning Girlfriend He Killed and Set Ablaze in Her Car

A South African lawyer has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend after killing her, setting her body and car ablaze, and later publicly mourning her on social media.

The South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, August 4, sentenced Thubelihle Sbonakaliso Mpisi to life in prison after finding him guilty of murder, malicious injury to property, and defeating the administration of justice.

Mpisi has remained in custody since his arrest on July 28, 2023, after abandoning his bail application. The charred remains of 26-year-old IT specialist Mahlako Malebo Rabalao were discovered inside her Mercedes-Benz near her Midrand home on March 9, 2023.

Although medical experts could not determine the exact cause of death due to the severe burns, prosecutors presented evidence showing Rabalao had died before the vehicle was set on fire. The court relied on cellphone records, forensic evidence, expert testimony, and Mpisi’s actions before and after the crime to convict him.

Prosecutors argued that Mpisi killed Rabalao before setting both her body and vehicle ablaze in an attempt to destroy evidence and cover up the crime.

Evidence also showed the couple shared a three-year-old son, and Rabalao had reportedly told relatives and friends she planned to end the relationship and move out of the apartment they shared before she was killed.

In a twist that later drew attention during the investigation, Mpisi publicly mourned Rabalao on Facebook after her death, describing her as “my love,” expressing deep grief, and thanking friends and family for their support. He was later arrested in KwaZulu-Natal after a four-month investigation.