Olorato Mongale murder: Family of man who turned himself in feared he would be killed by vigilantes
Fezile Ngubane has since been cleared by the police after it emerged that his personal details were being used by the people allegedly behind Mongale's killing.
A memorial service was held for Olorato Mongale in Bloemfontein on 29 May 2025. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The family of Fezile Ngubane who was a suspect in the murder case of Olorato Mongale, said that they were scared he would be killed in a vigilante attack.
On Friday, Ngubane handed himself over to police in Durban after a picture of him was circulated as a person of interest in the case.
He has since been cleared by the police after it emerged that his personal details were being used by the people allegedly behind Mongale's killing.
ALSO READ:
• Olorato Mongale's mother: 'I could see that my daughter fought, she even lost her nails'
• Olorato Mongale: Suspect who handed himself over 'did well' - Mchunu
Olorato Mongale's body was found dumped in Lombardy West in Johannesburg more a week ago after a botched date with her alleged killer.
Fezile's father, Mandlakhe Ngubane, said that he was not sure whether his son was guilty when he personally handed him over to the police.
"If he has a case to answer, then he had to answer it because as a parent, I also would not like it if my child is killed but people are refusing to handover the suspected of the murder. The process went very well, the police escorted us safely to the station because I was scared the people might kill him and me for being with him."
Mandlakhe said he was relieved when Fezile was cleared and released by police, saying that while he was a problem child, he did not believe he was a killer.
"The only thing that gets him into trouble is smoking whoonga. The only thing he does all day is wash cars, get money and use it to smoke whoonga everyday. That’s all. He cried when I told him I was handing him over to the police and I thought maybe God was talking to him, telling him this is your punishment for not listening to your parents when they tell you to quit this [whoonga]."