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Olorato Mongale
The state of Olorato Mongale’s body showed that the perpetrator was filled with anger.
That’s according to Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo who was at the scene where Mongale’s body was found at Lombardy West in Johannesburg last Sunday.
Boshielo was speaking at Mongale’s funeral service at City Hall in Bloemfontein.
Boshielo also confirmed that Philangenkosi Makhaya who was shot dead after police cornered him in KwaZulu-Natal, was indeed the man named John, which is the name he used when he met Mongale on her fateful date.
“It has now come to our knowledge that Philangenkosi is the John we have been looking for. Indeed also the teams working on this case did not give up. They worked on the case up until Philangenkosi, because I don’t think he even deserved this name, Makhaya, was traced at a block of apartments in Amanzimtoti on Friday morning. And when police announced their arrival, he shot at them and police had no choice but to return fire.”
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, addressing mourners at Olorato Mongale’s funeral, says, “We cannot become numb to these stories. We cannot allow the loss of women like Olorato to be reduced to headlines or hashtags.” pic.twitter.com/c3XFFg5uOs
— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 1, 2025
Fellow students and colleagues say Mongale took a stand against gender-based violence.
Wits University’s Dean of Students Jerome September has wished peace and closure for the family.
“Olorato was beautiful in so many ways, in every way possible that you can imagine; in the way that you can meet her by the cafe near the library and she would already know who you are; in the way that, not only her voice would announce her in every lecture hall but so would her spirit. Olorato was with us for a very short time, but she had everything that a Witsie is: excellence, determination.”
Funeral Service of Olorato Mongale:
