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Murder suspect Philangenkosi Makhanya
The main suspect in the murder of Olorato Mongale has been shot and killed by police in KwaZulu-Natal.
Philangenkosi Makhanya was found by the police in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban. It’s believed he shot at police, who returned fire.
Makhanya, together with two other suspects, Fezile Ngubane and Bongani Mthimkhulu, were wanted in connection with Mongale’s murder.
Mongale’s body was discovered near Alexandra township, in northern Johannesburg, last Sunday.
Ngubane and Mthimkhulu are still on the run.
On Thursday night, police also confirmed that Makhanya’s mother and father were taken into custody. This, as Makhanya’s father owned the VW Polo allegedly used in the commission of the crime, whilst his mother is believed to have tried to tip off her son to evade police.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is at the crime scene.
[OLORATO MURDER] The main suspect in the Olorato Mongale murder case was found by SAPS hiding at a residential complex in Amanzimtoti. When police announced their arrival, he shot at police, police returned fire and he was fatally wounded. Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi is on scene pic.twitter.com/FzXSuyYPpd
— Athlenda Mathe (@AthlendaM) May 30, 2025
Mongale was murdered after being picked up by a man in a VW Polo, and her body was dumped at Lombardy West.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the father of the suspects, said to be the owner of the vehicle, has been taken into custody.
“We have two suspects in custody: the mother and father of one of the suspects who is on the run are in custody. The father is the owner of the VW Polo while the mother is believed to have tipped off the son that police are at the parents’ house looking for him. This action by the mother enabled the son to evade arrest on Wednesday evening. When police arrived at his residence he had already left. But we are quite confident the teams on the ground will register a breakthrough soon and we will find all the suspects that we are looking for.”
