Brutal murder of Olorato Mongale making it hard for family to grieve
The master's student was found dumped in a field in Lombardy, in Johannesburg, last Sunday, hours after going on a date with a man she recently met.
Family and friends attended a candlelight memorial service for journalist Olorato Mongale on 28 May 2025 at the site in Lombardy West, Johannesburg where her body was found. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN
BLOEMFONTEIN - The family of murdered 30-year-old Olorato Mongale said it's struggling to grieve because of the brutal manner in which she was killed.
The master's student was found dumped in a field in Lombardy, in Johannesburg, last Sunday, hours after going on a date with a man she recently met.
Police made a breakthrough on Wednesday night, arresting one suspect in KwaZulu-Natal.
Three others are still on the run.
ALSO READ: Olorato Mongale's family at memorial service: 'She was a light, a force, a joy to know'
Investigators believe her killers are part of a criminal syndicate involved in trafficking and robbery.
On Thursday, mourners gathered at Hamilton Hall in Bloemfontein to honour her life, including friends, family and former classmates.
Mongale’s aunt, Dr Keamogetswe Mongale, said the details surrounding her death made the loss even harder to process.
"You know, speaking for the family, the difficulty for us during this process, during our bereavement, it’s just going to be how did it happen this way, and why this way?"