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FILE: Wits University student Olorato Mongale.
Family, friends and the community will gather at the City Hall in Bloemfontein in the Free State today to bid farewell to 30-year-old Olorato Mongale, who was murdered and her body dumped at Lombardy West in Johannesburg.
The search for Mongale started last Sunday, two hours after she left for what was supposed to be a date with a man.
A man is reported to have picked her up from her residential complex, driving a white VW Polo that was fitted with fake registration number plates.
A shootout with police in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal, on Friday morning led to the death of one of the main suspects, Philangenkosi Makhanya.
VIDEO | Manhunt intensifies for Olorato’s killer:
Search for suspects
Police say they are still searching for Bongani Mthimkulu in their investigation into Mongale’s killing and have called on him to hand himself over at his nearest police station.
However, they say one of the wanted people, Fezile Ngubane, has been cleared. Ngubane was initially identified as a suspect in a syndicate targeting young women, but investigations indicate he was a victim and not a suspect. Mongale’s body was discovered in Lombardy West, Johannesburg, on Monday – a day after she went on a date.
Following preliminary investigations by police. They indicated that Fezile Ngubane was a victim and not a suspect in the case. Ngubane was later released from police custody.
#sapsHQ [OLORATO MURDER CASE] #Wanted: The #SAPS has also added a third suspect in a list of wanted suspects related to the murder case of Olorato Mongale. Bongani Mthimkhulu who is a friend to Philangenkosi Makhanya is also a wanted suspect in this case. Mthimkulu is dressed in… pic.twitter.com/FGzijLuolw
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) May 29, 2025
Police National spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says, “According to a preliminary report, Ngubane washes cars for a living and stays in the same neighborhood as deceased Philangenkosi Makhanya. Makhanya allegedly identified Ngubane as a soft target and took his ID smart card and used it to RICA SIM cards that Makhanya would use to commit his long list of kidnapping and robbery crimes targeted at young women. At times, it’s alleged that he would use Ngubane’s bank card to buy at various clothing stores. Ngubane’s ID was found as part of the 27 ID smart cards found in the possession of the deceased.”
Mthimkhulu, who is on the run, and Makhanya were out on bail on a schedule six charge for kidnapping and robbery in Johannesburg, but were inexplicably released by the courts on bail in April.
Makhanya also had a pending case in Brakpan, which he was due to appear for on Monday and an additional case of kidnapping in KwaMashu, in which he was a person of interest in police investigations.
VIDEO | Olorato Mongale Murder | Search for Bongani Mthimkhulu continues:
