Latest news with #OloratoMongale
The Herald
9 hours 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 South African
10 hours ago
- The South African
Gauteng Legislature warns against social media date dangers
The Gauteng provincial legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has issued a strong warning to the public about the dangers of meeting strangers through social media apps. This follows the shocking murder of 30-year-old Olorato Mongale, who was found dead after reportedly leaving home for a date in Johannesburg. During an oversight visit to Jeppe Police Station on Thursday, the committee received alarming updates on criminal activity in the Maboneng precinct. The police reported a disturbing pattern in which individuals, often from across Gauteng, are lured to the area using social media hookup apps and then kidnapped, robbed, or assaulted. 'Station Management briefed the Committee on a disturbing trend where victims from across Gauteng are lured to Maboneng through hookup apps,' said committee chairperson Bandile Masuku. 'Of particular concern is the recent arrest of a gang operating in the Maboneng area that specifically targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ community.' Masuku urged residents to remain vigilant and take practical safety steps when engaging with people on social media. He advised the public to avoid meeting strangers in isolated or unfamiliar areas, always notify trusted contacts about meeting plans, and use video calls to confirm the other person's identity before agreeing to meet in person. 'For their safety, the Committee advises the public to avoid meeting strangers from apps in isolated or unfamiliar areas, inform trusted contacts about meetup plans, verify identities through video calls before meeting, and immediately report suspicious activity to SAPS,' he said. The murder of Mongale and the wave of reported kidnappings highlight the dark side of social media dating. While many apps promise convenience and connection, criminals increasingly exploit these platforms to prey on unsuspecting victims. The committee plans to work closely with law enforcement to monitor these trends and improve public awareness. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Olorato Mongale murder: Police progress and family reflections ahead of funeral
Olorato Mongale was murdered on Sunday May 25. Her body was dumped in Lombardy West, Johannesburg Image: Social Media As the family of murdered Wits postgraduate student Olorato Mongale prepares for her funeral on Sunday in Bloemfontein, her aunt Kealogetswe Mongale says the family is happy with the progress made by police during the course of the week, with one of three suspects still at large. Mongale, 30, went missing last Sunday after she was picked up at her residence in a VW Polo for what she believed was a date. Her body was found dumped along a road in Lombardy West in Johannesburg two hours later. The main suspect, Philangenkosi Makhanya, was shot dead by police at a flat in eManzimtoti south of Durban in the early hours on Friday. The second suspect, Fezile Ngubane, who was handed over to authorities by his father at the KwaMashu police station, has been cleared by police upon further investigation. 'An investigation has cleared Fezile Ngubane as a suspect in the Olorato murder case. Ngubane washes cars for a living and was targeted by the deceased Philangenkosi Makhanya, who used his ID to Rica (register) SIM cards with his details,' said national police spokesperson Athlende Mathe. Mathe said Makhanya used these SIM cards to communicate with women. 'He (Ngubane ) has been released.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Fezile Ngubane, Bongani Mthimkhulu and Philangenkosi Makhanya were the three suspects wanted by police in connection with the murder of Olorato Mongale. Ngubane has since been cleared by police. Image: SAPS Police are still hunting for Bongani Mthimkhulu, the third suspect wanted in connection with Mongale's murder. Mongale's aunt said the family is happy that the perpetrators were found, especially the main suspect. 'We would have hoped that he would have his day in court so that we could all be able to see who this person is and hopefully get some answers from him,' she said. However, she said the police 'did what they had to do' after the suspect attacked them. 'The turnaround time from the beginning of this investigation has been very good. We are very pleased with that. It's before the funeral on Sunday and we already know who the people are,' she said. On Friday, while discussing the developments in the case, Mathe confirmed that police are investigating a syndicate. She said police have 'broken the back' of the syndicate which targets young women and uses the same modus operandi of propositioning women, usually at malls, requesting to take them out on dates, then robbing them. Mathe said Makhanya and Mthimkhulu were out on bail on a charge of kidnapping and robbery in Brakpan in April, where they used the same VW Polo in the commissioning of a crime. The court later ordered that the vehicle be returned to its owner. Police said the white VW Polo was seized from a panel beater workshop in Phoenix, Durban, with traces of blood. According to reports, an elderly man believed to be the owner of the vehicle has been arrested while his wife was also arrested for tipping off their son, Makhanya, that the police were looking for him.
News24
12 hours ago
- General
- News24
Olorato Mongale murder: One man cleared, released from police custody
Fezile Ngubane, who was previously linked to the murder of Olorato Mongale, has been cleared by police. Police said Ngubane's father voluntarily brought him to the KwaMashu police station on Friday. A preliminary report revealed that Ngubane, who resides in the same neighbourhood as the late suspect Philangenkosi Makhanya, was unknowingly exploited. One of the men previously wanted in connection with Olorato Mongale's murder has been released from police custody, without any charges being filed, police said on Saturday. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said Fezile Ngubane's father voluntarily brought him to the KwaMashu police station on Friday when he learnt that his son had been linked to the ongoing murder investigation. However, Mathe said that, after thorough interviews and an initial investigation conducted by a multidisciplinary team, Ngubane was officially cleared of wrongdoing. Mathe said Ngubane, who apparently works as a car washer and resides in the same neighbourhood as the late suspect Philangenkosi Makhanya, was unknowingly exploited. '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,' Mathe said. Mathe said Ngubane's identity card was among the 27 ID smart cards found in Makhanya's possession. 'The SAPS has also released the parents of one of the two suspects in the case after their statements were taken down,' she said. Mathe said police had recorded 20 cases where women had come forward to identify the suspects as those who had kidnapped and robbed them. Police previously identified Ngubane, Makhanya, 28, Bongani Mthimkhulu, 34, as suspects sought in connection with the killing of 30-year-old Mongale. Mongale's badly beaten body was discovered on 34 Cambridge Road, outside a car workshop in Lombardy West on Sunday. She was last seen on Sunday afternoon, climbing into a white Polo Volkswagen with cloned number plates, outside her complex in Atholl, Johannesburg. Mongale was under the impression that she was going on a date with a man she had met in Bloemfontein while visiting family. The man called himself 'John'. Makhanya was killed during a shootout with KwaZulu-Natal police after he was located at an apartment in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban, in the early hours of Friday morning. Makhanya was found in possession of 28 identity cards, a safe, and 'not less than' 20 cellphones. News24 previously reported that KwaZulu-Natal's police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, said that Makhanya had allegedly confessed to the murder and wanted to take his own life before he was gunned down. Mkhwanazi said that, according to the owner of the apartment, Makhanya confessed to him what he did in Johannesburg, and that he wanted to take his own life. 'There is a person who deals with hiring vehicles and is renting out an apartment here. The suspect has previously rented a car from him. The guy says, upon seeing his [Makhanya's] face on social media, he decided that he was not going to give him the vehicle. 'He stayed with him the whole day trying to convince him to hand himself over to the police, which he refused,' he told reporters at the scene. Meanwhile, Mthimkhulu remains at large. 'The search for Bongani Mthimkhulu continues, and police once again call on Mthimkhulu to hand himself over at his nearest police station,' Mathe said.
IOL News
15 hours ago
- IOL News
The femicide crisis in South Africa: Unraveling the murder of Olorato Mongale
The tragic murder of 30-year-old Olorato Mongale has rocked South Africa and further exposed a highly sophisticated criminal syndicate that targets women. The incident On May 25, Mongale, a postgraduate student at the University of the Witwatersrand, went on a date with a man she had recently met. CCTV footage captured her leaving her residence in Athol, Johannesburg, and getting into a white VW Polo with what was later revealed as cloned licence plates. Police investigations revealed that the two drove to Alexandra, then to Kew. According to police, between Alexandra and Lombardy West in Johannesburg, this suspect allegedly murdered Olorato and dumped her body. "Some of the belongings of the victim, which include her mobile phone and handbag were found abandoned in Kew, Johannesburg," stated national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe. The discovery of Mongale's body sparked public outrage and calls for justice.
