In a high-profile case in Pretoria, a 42-year-old woman, Ntabiseng Tlali, and her 39-year-old domestic worker, Lineo Ralitsa, have both been sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of Tlali’s husband, David Malewa Tlali.The court found that financial gain was the primary motive, as Ntabiseng Tlali had received several insurance payouts following her husband’s death.Evidence presented in court revealed that in June 2024, Tlali instructed Ralitsa to find hitmen.Ralitsa then contacted her ex-boyfriend, who sourced two male Lesotho nationals to carry out the murder.

On 11 August 2024, the men stayed at Ralitsa’s home overnight before proceeding to the deceased’s residence the following morning, where they shot him at the gate.Both women were arrested in November 2024 and later pleaded guilty to the charges.The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed the sentences, emphasising the serious nature of the crime and the premeditation involved.

The case highlights issues around insurance fraud, domestic collusion, and violent crime in South Africa, drawing attention to the judicial system’s role in addressing such calculated crimes.