Suspect in Olorato Murder Case Dead

(The Post News)- Philangenkosi Sibongokuhle Makhanya, the primary suspect in the murder case of 30-year-old Olorato Mongale, was fatally shot in a police shootout in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. National Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the suspect’s death in a statement released early Friday morning.

According to reports, Makhanya was found hiding at a residential complex in Amanzimtoti. Authorities say the suspect initiated a shootout with police upon their arrival. Brigadier Mathe stated that “when police announced their arrival, he shot at police, and police returned fire, and he was fatally wounded.”

Makhanya was one of three suspects sought in connection with Mongale’s murder, which occurred on Sunday afternoon in Lombardy West, Johannesburg. The victim had gone on a date with a man named John and was last seen being picked up by a man in a white VW Polo with a fraudulent number plate.

The investigation led police to trace the suspicious vehicle, which was found at a panel beater workshop in Phoenix, Durban. The vehicle, belonging to Makhanya’s father, had remnants of blood inside. Two suspects, Makhanya and Fezile Ngubane, were listed as wanted by police earlier this week, and an additional suspect, Bongani Mthimkhulu, was later added to the list.

General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi explained the events leading up to the suspect’s death. “The suspect arrived with the intention of hiring a vehicle… The person who rents out vehicles alleged that upon seeing his face on the media, he decided not to give him the vehicle. However, the suspect stayed with him the whole day, trying to convince him to hand himself over, and he confessed to the crimes he committed in Johannesburg. The witness also claimed that the suspect wanted to commit suicide.”

Mkhwanazi further stated that the owner of the rental property informed them that Makhanya was planning to flee to Zimbabwe. Police are still trying to locate him. A number of identity cards and cell phones were found on the suspect, with Mkhwanazi revealing that “we have not less than 28 ID cards and not less than 20 cellphones. He was also carrying a safe, which we are still trying to access.”

Mkhwanazi believes there may be more victims yet to be uncovered, given the large number of identity cards and cell phones found in Makhanya’s possession.