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Two of the three suspects in the murder of Olorato Mongale. The third person has since been cleared by police.
Bloemfontein women have revealed details of how a date with two suspects linked to the Olorato Mongale murder case went horribly wrong. They have expressed safety concerns amid a spate of cases of dating scams and robberies around the country.
They say they were with the suspects on the 22nd of May, just two days before the two men met up with Olorato in Johannesburg.
One of the victims says she was approached by one of the suspects, who at the time introduced himself as Mhlengi at a Mall in Bloemfontein. She says he asked her out on a date, but she repeatedly refused his advances.
“Because I told him about my safety concerns, he suggested that I bring a friend on the date so I can be at ease. I managed to convince a friend to join, but unfortunately, the would-be date ended up being a drive to an isolated area in Bochabela township in Bloemfontein, where they terrorised and robbed us. We were held at gunpoint and knifepoint, threatened with being killed if we didn’t comply.”
She adds that together with her friend, they were forced to call people asking for money, favours and given instructions on what to say.
“We were given instructions on what to say. I made a call stating that I was in a crisis and urgently needed R2000. The suspects told us that they will shoot us if we don’t convince the people we were asking for the money from to send the money. Fortunately for me and my friend, someone sent me money, and because they were in possession of my phone, they did a cash send and forwarded it to one of their phones before they released us.”
Another woman, who fears for her life, says she finds it hard to even walk freely in public, as she might be a potential victim of scams and killings. She also attributes social media and the pressures of dating among young people as one of the reasons they are vulnerable to falling victim.
“Olorato’s murder made me realise that there are so many untold stories after 20 other victims came forward with their ordeals. That alone makes me feel unsafe because not all victims get justice, their cases aren’t carried through because they are not publicised. Being a woman in South Africa has become a curse because it seems daily somebody out there is baying for the blood of a woman,” she explains.
EXCLUSIVE | Victim of syndicate implicated in Olorato Mongale’s murder speaks out
Police are investigating cases linked to the syndicate throughout the country, and 4 of them have been opened in Bloemfontein.
One of the suspects linked to the syndicate Philangenkosi Makhanya was gunned down by police last week, only a week after their encounter with Olorato.
