Main Suspect in Murder of Wits University Student Olorato Mongale Shot and Killed During Police Shootout
One of the main suspects in the murder of 22-year-old Olorato Mongale has been shot and killed during a police operation in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal.
The fatal incident occurred early on Friday morning as authorities intensified efforts to track down those responsible for the Wits University student’s brutal killing.
Also Read: Wits University Postgraduate Student Found Dead After Fatal First Date
Olorato Mongale Murder Suspect Gunned Down After Firing at Police
According to police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the suspect had been hiding out in a flat in the Amanzimtoti area.
He reportedly opened fire on police officers who had traced him to the location.
“The main suspect in the killing of Olorato Mongale, who was killed and dumped on the side of the road at Lombardy in Johannesburg, Gauteng province, was shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police in the Amanzimtoti area in KwaZulu-Natal,” Netshiunda told The Citizen.
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, was present at the crime scene but was scheduled to leave shortly after for another urgent engagement out of the province.
Parents of Another Suspect Arrested for Aiding His Escape
The police are still on the hunt for two more suspects believed to be involved in Mongale’s murder. In a dramatic twist, the mother and father of one of the suspects were taken into custody on Thursday. Police allege they assisted their son in evading arrest.
“The father is the owner of the VW Polo, while the mother is believed to have tipped off the son that police are at the parents’ house looking for him,” police said in a statement.
The tip-off enabled the suspect to flee his residence in Inanda, KZN, just before police arrived on Wednesday evening.
More Names Emerge as Investigations Deepen
Earlier on Thursday, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that Bongani Mthimkhulu, a friend of one of the primary suspects, was wanted in connection with Mongale’s murder.
He and another man, Phila Makhanya, had already been arrested on 20 April for unrelated kidnapping and robbery charges in the Brockbunny area. The connection to Mongale’s murder emerged later.