Latest news with #BonganiMthimkhulu
The Herald
a day ago
- General
- The Herald
Fezile Ngubane is a victim, not involved in Olorato Mongale's killing: police
KwaZulu-Natal man Fezile Ngubane who was initially identified as a suspect sought by police in the Olorato Mongale murder and said to be in a syndicate targeting young women has been cleared. Mongale was last seen leaving her flat in northern Johannesburg for a date with a man who called himself 'John' on Sunday afternoon. Her body was later discovered in Lombardy East near Alexandra. The white VW Polo used to pick up Mongale was found at a panel-beating workshop in Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. Police initially identified Philangenkosi Makhanya and Ngubane as people of interest in the murder. On Thursday morning police identified a third man, Bongani Mthimkhulu, who is a friend of Makhanya, as an additional suspect. National police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said on Saturday Ngubane's father handed him over to KwaMashu police on Friday when he learnt his son was being sought by police in the Mongale murder case. 'A multidisciplinary team led by the deputy provincial commissioner for crime detection in Gauteng, Maj-Gen Mbuso Khumalo, the SAPS national anti-kidnapping task team, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provincial investigating unit (PIU) have now cleared Ngubane after a thorough interview and preliminary investigation.' A preliminary report found Ngubane washes cars for a living and stays in the same neighbourhood as Makhanya, who died during a confrontation with police at an Amanzimtoti flat on Friday. Mathe said Makhanya allegedly identified Ngubane as a soft target and took his ID smart card and used it to Rica SIM cards. These were alleged used by Makhanya to commit kidnapping and robbery involving young women. Makhanya is alleged to have also used Ngubane's bank card at various clothing stores. Ngubane's ID was found as part of a batch of 27 ID smart cards found on Friday in Makhanya's possession at a flat belonging to a man who rents vehicles. Mathe said the parents of one of the two suspects were released after they deposed statements. 'Police are sitting with at least 20 cases where women have come forward identifying the suspects as those that kidnapped and robbed them. Some of these cases were reported in Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, Midrand, Ogies and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, Pretoria and Johannesburg.' She said the search for Mthimkhulu continues. TimesLIVE
The Herald
3 days ago
- General
- The Herald
Main suspect in Olorato Mongale's murder dies in shootout with cops
The main suspect in the murder of Wits postgraduate student Olorato Mongale has been fatally shot by police in KwaZulu-Natal. Without naming him, national police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said he was found by police hiding out in a residential complex in Amanzimtoti. "When police announced their arrival, he shot at them. Police returned fire and he was fatally wounded," she said at 4am on Friday, adding provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is at the scene. Mkhwanazi told eNCA the suspect had gone to the apartment to rent a car from someone living there on Thursday morning. The rental person declined to do so due to his high profile after wanted notices were issued by police. He stayed there for the day. According to the resident, he confessed to the murder and displayed signs of being suicidal. Mongale was last seen leaving her apartment in northern Johannesburg for a date with a man who called himself John on Sunday afternoon. Her body was discovered in Lombardy near Alexandra. The white VW Polo used to pick up Mongale was found at a panel-beating workshop in Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. The owner of the vehicle, an elderly man, was arrested and police identified Philangenkosi Makhanya and Fezile Ngubane as people of interest in the murder. On Thursday morning, police identified a third man, Bongani Mthimkhulu, who is a friend of Makhanya, as an additional suspect. Mathe disclosed later on Thursday that Makhanya and Mthimkhulu were out on bail after their arrest in Brakpan last month for kidnapping and robbing a woman. After a court appearance, they were released from custody on April 26. The parents of one of the three suspects are in custody. Police said: "The father is the owner of the VW polo while the mother is believed to have tipped off the son that police were at the parents' house looking for him. The action by the mother enabled the son to evade arrest on Wednesday night. When police arrived in Inanda where he stays, he had left." Mathe urged anyone who spots the other two suspects to immediately contact Brig Edwin Nama on 082-778-9035. TimesLIVE
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
SAPS after syndicate targeting women in Gauteng malls
The police have confirmed that there is a syndicate that targets young women in and around Gauteng malls. This comes as the search for three suspects linked to 30-year-old Olorato Mongale's murder continues to intensify. Image: Social Media Police are investigating a syndicate targeting women in and around Gauteng shopping malls. This comes as Saps has identified three suspects, Fezile Ngubane, Philangenkosi Sibongokuhle Makhanya, and Bongani Mthimkhulu, linked to the murder of 30-year-old Olorato Mongale, originally from the Free State province. On Wednesday, the SAPS National Crime Intelligence Unit, working with other agencies, confirmed the arrest of the owner of a white VW Polo, which was spotted at the residence of the former Wits University student who was found dead after reportedly going on a date with the alleged driver of the vehicle. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Two of the three suspects, Bongani Mthimkhulu and Philangenkosi Sibongokuhle Makhanya are being sought by the police over the murder of Olorato Mongale. Image: SAPS On Thursday, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe updated the media on Mongale's murder case, saying they are on the trail of an alleged syndicate that targets and kills women. "In terms of the Olorato murder case, we have registered commendable progress insofar as this case is concerned. We do officially confirm that we are investigating a syndicate. We do believe that we have broken the back of this syndicate that is targeting women, especially young women out there, using the same modus operandi. They propose these young women, usually in malls," she said. According to the police, these criminals approach women on social media and request to take them out on dates, and when they agree, they are robbed and killed. "The perpetrators approach them, request to take them out on dates. They propose them and then rob them. We do have a case where we have arrested two of the three suspects that we are looking for. "On the 20th of April this year, we arrested Bongani Mthimkhulu as well as Phila Makhanya on a charge of kidnapping and robbery in the Brakpan area, where a vigilant police officer was conducting his regular patrols and came across a suspicious-looking vehicle, which is a VW Polo, the same VW Polo," she stated. The white VW Polo that was discovered in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Image: SAPS Reacting to the seizure of the vehicle and the identification of the alleged suspects, family spokesperson, Criselda Kananda, welcomed the arrest, adding that the family is still shaken and devastated by the events that have led to their child's death. "As can be expected, we are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved daughter, Olorato Mongale. We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the police services for their diligent work in locating the car involved in the criminal act that led to her untimely death. While we take a small measure of comfort in this progress, we remain devastated by the fact that the suspects are still at large." Meanwhile, Police Minister Seno Mchunu has commended SAPS for progress in the investigation into the tragic murder of Mongale. On Thursday, Mchunu stated: 'We commend the SAPS National Crime Intelligence Unit, the Anti-Kidnapping Task Team, and all multidisciplinary units involved - including the Gauteng Provincial Investigation Unit, DPCI KZN Tracking Team, Durban Metro Police K-9 Unit, and the private security teams that supported the operation. The seizure of the vehicle allegedly used in this heinous crime and the questioning of its owner, who is currently under police custody, mark a crucial step toward justice. This remarkable progress reaffirms the importance of coordinated intelligence and the collective resolve to combat violent crime in our communities." Fezile Ngubane is also wanted in connection with the murder of Olorato Mongale. Image: SAPS Mongale went on a date with her alleged killer, who picked her up from her residential complex, driving a white VW Polo on Sunday, May 25, 2025. The alleged killer(s) then drove with her to Alexandra, where they proceeded to Kew, and between Alexandra and Lombardy West in Johannesburg, where her body was found. Cape Times
News24
3 days ago
- General
- News24
Olorato Mongale murder suspect killed during shootout with police in KZN
The main suspect wanted for the murder of Olorato Mongale has been killed in a shootout with police in the early hours of Friday morning. According to police, a takedown operation was put into action after they received information that one of the suspects was hiding in a residential complex in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said when police announced their arrival, the man shot at the officers, who then returned fire and he was fatally wounded. Police have not yet disclosed the name of the suspect, but it is understood to be the man Mongale initially met for a date on the day she was murdered. Police previously identified Bongani Mthimkhulu, Philangenkosi Makhanya and Fezile Ngubane as suspects sought in connection with the murder of 30-year-old Mongale, whose body was discovered next to Cambridge Road outside of a car workshop in Lombardy West in Johannesburg on Sunday. While police continue the search for the two remaining suspects, they have taken in the parents of one of the wanted men for questioning. The mother was taken after she allegedly tipped off her son about the police's interest in his whereabouts, which enabled him to evade arrest on Wednesday. It is also believed that the suspect's father is the owner of the vehicle thought to have been used during Mongale's murder.
IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
Olorato Mongale: Suspects previously arrested for kidnapping and robbery, now linked to crime syndicate
Police say two of the three men wanted for her murder were arrested previously for allegedly kidnapping and robbing a woman in Brakpan, and are part of a syndicate Police believe that the trio linked to Olorato Mongale's murder are part of a bigger syndicate targeting women. Police further confirmed that two of the suspects currently on the run, Bongani Mthimkhulu and Philangenkosi Makhanya, were previously arrested and charged for kidnapping and robbery. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said Mthimkhulu and Makhanya were spotted by a police officer on patrol on April 20 in Brakpan. They were driving a white Volkswagen Polo that has since been seized by police in KwaZulu-Natal. The accused appeared in court and were released on bail on April 26.
