By Everson Luhanga
The family of Mahlako Malebo Rabalao said they first heard that she had been murdered when they received a call from her boyfriend, a Joburg-based legal practitioner who has since been arrested in connection with her death.
Thubelihle Sbonakaliso Mpisi was arrested by Gauteng police detectives on Friday and he appeared in the Alexandra magistrate’s court on Monday.
Speaking to Scrolla.Africa that day, Mahlako’s family said Mpisi was the first person to inform them about her death. “He told us that the police came to him and informed him that Mahlako was found dead in a burnt car a few streets away from their home in Midrand, Johannesburg.”
A family member who asked not to be named said on 7 March, Mpisi told the family that his girlfriend was “missing”.
Two days later, Mpisi went back to the family to inform them that Mahlako had been found dead.
About four months later, on Friday 28 July, Mpisi, a lawyer and activist, was arrested by the Gauteng police detectives who traced him to KwaZulu-Natal. The family said they are shocked by his arrest. “We never thought he could be linked to Mahlako’s death,” said the family member.
“The man was helping us look for her and assured us that he would go to all her friends and workplace to find out where she had disappeared. But what surprised us is that he didn’t report her missing to the police.”
She said Mahlako was an IT specialist who was raised well by her late father, who was a doctor, and her mother, who is a teacher.
The police’s thorough investigation led to the arrest of the boyfriend.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that Mpisi, 30, was arrested in KZN on Friday after a warrant of arrest had been issued against him.
“During the investigation, it transpired that the deceased was killed and burnt inside the vehicle,” Masondo told Scrolla.Africa.
The family said the couple has a three-year-old son together.
Shortly after her death, Mpisi posted pictures of the three of them on Tiktok showing their happy days as a family.
“Rest in peace, my love. The pain I’m in is so deep. I don’t know where to begin to start picking up the pieces. How do I raise (child’s name) ungekho (without you)? I thank God for giving me the time we’ve shared together. Nothing can ever take that away,” read part of the long message he posted.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, welcomed the arrest and applauded the investigating team that worked so hard to bring the suspect to book.
Mpisi remains in custody and will be back in court on 7 August for a possible bail hearing.
Pictured above: Thubelihle Sbonakaliso Mpisi (right) remains in custody for the murder of his girlfriend, Mahlako Malebo Rabalao (left).
Image source: Tiktok
