Latest news with #PhilangenkosiMakhanya
The Guardian
13-06-2025
- The Guardian
South African woman's murder prompts anger at country's high level of femicide
A wave of anger and frustration has gripped South Africa after the murder of 30-year-old Olorato Mongale, allegedly by a man she went on a date with. It is the latest in a series of high-profile cases of violence against women and children in the country. Friends of Mongale, a former journalist who had been studying for a master's degree in ICT policy, raised the alarm when she stopped checking in with them while on a date in Johannesburg on 25 May. Her body was found that day. The main suspect, Philangenkosi Makhanya, was killed in a shootout with police five days later, while another suspect, Bongani Mthimkhulu, remains on the run. South African police said more than 20 women had come forward to claim the two men had kidnapped and robbed them after masquerading as suitors at malls across South Africa, in what police called a 'romance dating scam'. South Africa has one of the highest rates of femicide in the world, according to available data. In the year to 31 March 2024, more than 27,600 people were murdered, 5,578 of them women and 1,656 children, according to South African police data. Globally, in 2023, approximately 1.3 women per 100,000 were killed by an intimate partner or relative, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) found that during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic the rate was 5.5. Cameron Kasambala, the community manager at the advocacy group Women For Change, said: 'Women die no matter what they do. They've been stabbed while they sleep, shot in broad daylight and had their houses burned down by former partners.' She pointed to the violent repression of South Africa's black majority by the white minority during apartheid, which ended more than three decades ago. 'Men compensate by becoming hypermasculine, by being violent and aggressive … It's rooted in our violent history and exacerbated by poverty and substance abuse,' said Kasambala. Other high-profile cases have included Racquel 'Kelly' Smith selling her six-year-old daughter Joshlin, and that of Uyinene Mrwetyana, a student whose rape and murder in 2019 sparked huge protests. However, activists emphasise that thousands more go unnoticed every year. In April, Women For Change handed over a petition with 150,000 signatures demanding that the government declare 'gender-based violence and femicide' (GBVF) to be a national disaster. Kasambala said: 'This stance will then filter down to the police, the courts and hospitals.' Sindisiwe Chikunga, the minister for women, youth and persons with disabilities, replied in a letter: 'The government remains fully committed to a whole-of-society, multi-sectoral response to the GBVF crisis.' She did not mention the national disaster demand. Naeemah Abrahams, who leads the SAMRC's femicide research, said: 'When we try and solve it, it's not going to be just the law. We've got great laws.' Social norms around men being financial providers fuel violence, Abrahams said, with many believing, 'if women step out of these societal expectations, she should be corrected for it'. Mongale's loved ones were incredibly proud of her achievements, said Criselda Kananda, the best friend of Mongale's mother, Keabetswe. These included teaching English in South Korea and buying a flat in her home city of Bloemfontein. Kananda said: 'Olorato was such a bubbly ball of energy, who just lit up any space that she entered, who never took no for an answer.' On Monday, Mongale's mother went to her only child's apartment for the first time since her death and found baking ingredients ready to make a cake. Kananda said: 'We really are struggling … It's things like these that are now painting a reality that she is no more.'
The Herald
05-06-2025
- The Herald
Manhunt continues for third suspect in Olorato Mongale murder case
Police are still searching for Bongani Mthimkhulu, the remaining suspect implicated in the murder of 30-year-old student Olorato Mongale. Last week, Mthimkhulu was identified as the third suspect in the case along with Philangenkosi Makhanya and Fezile Ngubane. Makhanya was killed during an altercation with police in KZN on Friday, while Ngubane was cleared by police at the weekend. Speaking to Sowetan, national police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said Mthimkhulu had not yet been found. 'The police are still searching,' she said. Last week Mathe revealed that Makhanya and Mthimkhulu had been arrested for kidnapping and robbery in Brakpan in April, but were released on bail. ' On April 20 this year, we arrested them [Makhanya and Mthimkhulu] on a charge of kidnapping and robbery in the Brakpan area, where a vigilant police officer was conducting his regular patrols. He came across a suspicious-looking vehicle, a VW Polo and when he confronted the suspects, he found that they had just kidnapped a woman and robbed her.
The Herald
31-05-2025
- 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
31-05-2025
- 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
30-05-2025
- 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
