UPDATE: Second suspect in Olorato Mongale murder cleared, released from custody, say police
According to a police statement released on Saturday afternoon, the man - who is a car guard and stays in the same neighbourhood as Makhanya, was allegedly identified by the late suspect as a soft target.
A candlelight memorial service was held for journalist Olorato Mongale on 28 May 2025 at the site in Lombardy West, Johannesburg where her body was found. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - A man who was believed to be a second suspect in the murder case of 30-year-old Olorato Mongale, and who handed himself over to police, has been cleared and released from police custody.
The man went to the KwaMashu police station in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday afternoon.
This follows the death of the main suspect in the matter, Philangenkosi Makhanya, who died in a shootout with police in the early hours of Friday morning in Amanzimtoti.
Eyewitness News understands that the suspect who handed himself over to police was linked to Mongale's murder through SIM cards that were RICA'd to his name.
According to police, at least 28 SIM cards that were being used by Makhanya were registered in his name.
However, in a statement released by police on Saturday afternoon, they indicated that the man had been cleared and had since been released from custody.
The man, who is a car guard and stays in the same neighbourhood as Makhanya, was allegedly identified by the late suspect as a soft target.
According to police, Makhanya took the man's ID smart card and used it to RICA SIM cards that Makhanya would use to commit crimes targeted at young women.
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Mongale’s body was discovered dumped in Lombardy West, Johannesburg, on Sunday after she had gone on a date with a man she had recently met, but never returned.
Investigations are at an advanced stage in the case, with one more suspect still at large.
"The second one did hand himself over to police in KwaMashu. The other one I’m told ran somewhere, out of the country or whatever. That means nothing, we will find him. And I did appeal to them to hand themselves over to the nearest police station. Or else… they must know, we want them dead or alive," Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said.