The funeral of 30-year-old Olorato Mongale is being held today at the City Hall in Bloemfontein, as the nation continues to mourn her tragic and violent death. Mongale, a Wits University student, was brutally murdered after going missing last Sunday. Her body was discovered the following day in Lombardy West, Johannesburg.
According to reports, Mongale had left her residence to meet a man for what she believed was a casual date. She was picked up by a man driving a white Volkswagen Polo, later revealed to have false registration plates. Concern grew just hours after her disappearance, prompting an immediate search by family and authorities.
The investigation took a dramatic turn on Friday morning when a key suspect, Philangenkosi Makhanya, was killed in a shootout with police in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal. Makhanya was one of two men previously arrested and released on bail for serious charges, including kidnapping and robbery—charges that fall under South Africa’s Schedule Six offenses. Authorities are now questioning why Makhanya was granted bail despite the gravity of those charges and his history of criminal activity.
Another suspect, Bongani Mthimkhulu, remains at large. Police have urged him to surrender at the nearest police station. Meanwhile, Fezile Ngubane, who was initially listed as a suspect, has been cleared. Further investigation revealed that Ngubane was not involved in the crime, but rather a victim of identity theft.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe explained that Ngubane, a car washer residing in the same area as Makhanya, had his identity documents stolen. Makhanya allegedly used Ngubane’s ID to register SIM cards and make bank purchases tied to multiple criminal operations. Authorities found Ngubane’s ID among 27 identity cards recovered from Makhanya’s possessions.
The incident has sparked public outrage over the justice system’s handling of serious offenders. Makhanya, at the time of his death, had several pending cases, including one in Brakpan and another in KwaMashu related to kidnapping. His death has brought some solace to the Mongale family, but the search continues for Mthimkhulu, who remains a key figure in the ongoing investigation.
This high-profile case has also reignited debates around bail and parole laws. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has since pledged to review and tighten policies that allowed dangerous individuals to be released back into communities.
As friends, family, and community members gather to remember Mongale, the pain of her loss is matched only by the public’s demand for justice. Her funeral serves not only as a farewell to a beloved daughter and student, but as a somber reminder of the violence faced by many young women in South Africa.
Authorities have asked anyone with information on Mthimkhulu’s whereabouts to come forward, as the investigation into this tragic case remains active.
