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The crime scene where the main suspect in the Olorato Mongale murder case, Philangenkosi Makhanya was shot dead by police in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal on May 29, 2025.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says that the police have detained two suspects who were with Philangenkosi Makhanya, who was the main suspect in the murder case of Olorato Mongale.
He died during a shootout with police in Amanzimtoti in KZN in the early hours of Friday.
The two other suspects were arrested for aiding and abetting Makhanya by transporting him around.
His parents were also taken in for questioning on the matter, after his mother allegedly tipped him off that the police were looking for him.
Mongale’s body was discovered near Alexandra in northern Johannesburg last Sunday.
Mkhwanazi briefs the media outside a flat where he was cornered and shot by the police, saying, “The team has been tracing from Johannesburg, working with KZN, following up the information. The vehicle was located in one of the townships, at a panel beater shop, and the vehicle was traced to belong to the owner at KwaMashu township, and we arrived there and the boy was not there.”
Mkhwanazi adds, “The father confirmed that the son was using the vehicle. The son is the one who has been in the public space about being involved in the murder of that girl. We then were able to pick up the vehicle and pick him up yesterday morning, and we followed that vehicle until we located the car.”
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KZN Police Commissioner says, “ From there, we were able to then trace all the movements of that vehicle, where he dropped off, who was traveling with him. So, we do have the suspect that was driving the vehicle and the accomplice that was also with him.”
Two suspects
Mkhwanazi says the search is still underway for two more suspects, explaining how Makhanya was intercepted.
“We were then able to track the vehicle that picked him up yesterday morning, and we followed that vehicle until we located the car. From there, we were able to then trace all the movements of that vehicle where he was dropped off, who was travelling with them.”
“So we do have the suspect driving the vehicle, we have the accomplice who was also with him in the morning, until they brought us here, where he was hiding. He came here, according to the person who is renting the place. He came here to come and rent the vehicle, and apparently he rented the vehicle in the past from the same guy.”
He adds, “He came here to rent the vehicle. This guy says he didn’t give him the vehicle because he had seen his photo in the media that he was wanted for something, so he kept him there and he was interrogated him. The shooting happened when the police arrived. This guy confirms that he did not search him, he didn’t know whether he was carrying a firearm, so when the police came in, knocked at the door and opened the door so that’s when he pulled out the gun.”
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-Additional reporting by Fanele Mhlongo.
