Latest news with #PhilangenkosiMakhanya
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
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
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
News you should know tonight: Top 5 stories you may have missed on May 30, 2025
The prime suspect wanted in connection with Olorato Mongale's death, allegedly confessed to her murder moments before he was killed in a gun battle with KZN cops on Friday morning. Good evening, IOL News family! It's Friday, May 30, 2025, and it's time for a wrap of the biggest headlines making waves in South Africa and beyond. Don't forget to join the IOL WhatsApp Channel to stay in tune, informed, and in the know SA faces lottery blackout after Pretoria High Court dismisses Ithuba bid South Africa may face a brief lottery blackout after the Pretoria High Court dismissed the National Lotteries Commission's urgent application to appoint Ithuba as a temporary operator beyond its May 31 license expiry. To read on, click here. Ethekwini Municipality confirms readiness for 98th Comrades Marathon The eThekwini Municipality has confirmed its readiness to co-host the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon on Sunday, June 8. To read on, click here. NHI regulations face opposition from the Western Cape Government amid digital service expansion The Western Cape Cabinet has reaffirmed its opposition to the draft regulations of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act, warning that the proposed governance arrangements threaten to destabilize the provincial health system. To read on, click here. Suspect found hiding in Durban allegedly confessed to the murder of Olorato Mongale The prime suspect, Philangenkosi Makhanya, who was wanted in connection with Olorato Mongale's murder, allegedly confessed to her murder moments before he was killed in a gun battle with KZN cops on Friday morning. To read on, click here. Deputy Speaker refers over 10 EFF members for discipline after Ramaphosa session chaos Deputy Speaker Annelie Lotriet has referred several EFF MPs to the Speaker for possible disciplinary action following their disruption of President Cyril Ramaphosa's Q&A session on Tuesday. To read on, click here. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL News
News24
2 days ago
- General
- News24
Main suspect killed, two on the run in Olorato Mongale's murder case
Yet again, the KZN SAPS have made a breakthrough into a high-profile case. Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi's team has clamped down on the three identified suspects in the murder case of Rhodes Journalism graduate and Wits student, Olorato Mongale, just under a week after her body was found dumped in Lombardy West. While the country slept on Thursday, 29 June, to celebrate one of the suspects' parents being apprehended after the mother tipped her son off, they woke up to the news of the main suspect, Philangenkosi Sbongokuhle Makhanya, being fatally shot by the police in Durban. Read more | Olorato Mongale's family struggles to come to terms with her tragic death - 'Our worst fears came true' In the early hours of the morning, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe announced a takedown operation. Philangenkosi fled back to Durban, where he's from, and sought refuge at a residential complex in Amanzimtoti. This, while the other two suspects, Bongani Mthimkhulu and Fezile Ngubane, are still on the run. At the flat, he was found with 20 cellphones and 28 ID cards. Together with Bongani, Philangenkosi was out on bail granted in April in a case they were accused of armed robbery and kidnapping of a woman in Brakpan. The three are believed to have premeditated and jointly executed the murder of Olorato under the pretense of a romantic pursuit. The 30-year-old woman was lured to her death with a date she thought she was going to have with a man she had met at a mall, who picked her up from her residential complex in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Sunday, 25 June. Upon investigations, the police found that she had been driven to Alexandra, then to Kew, and finally to Lombardy West, where her body was dumped on the road, alarming the neighbourhood. Read more | Family of Mpumalanga woman axed by baby daddy over Sassa card speaks out Investigations also revealed that the white VW Polo, which was used in the crime, was fitted with fake registration plates and that there is a bigger mall syndicate targeting women. The vehicle was first traced down to a panelbeater shop in Phoenix, Durban which led them to the owner, Philangenkosi's father. Meanwhile, the Mongale family is still reeling from their rainbow baby. Olorato was honoured at a memorial service in Bloemfontein on Thursday, where heartfelt tributes were paid in celebration of her life. All these breakthroughs have been commended by the country at large.
The Herald
2 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
