Pretoria – Fezile Ngubane, who was named as one of the three wanted persons in connection with the murder of Olorato Mongale, has been set free after he handed himself over to the police.
The body of 30-year-old Mongale was found on a sidewalk in Lombardy West by the police with the assistance of community members after she was picked up from her residence in Athol by a man known only as “John,” who was driving a VW Polo.
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Soon after, police put out a “be on the lookout” notice for the suspects.
Initially, the police said they were looking for Philangenkosi Makhanya and Fezile Ngubane, but they later added Bongani Mthimkhulu.
Makhanya was killed in a confrontation with police at his hideout, a multi-storey flat in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban, with police on Friday.
Late Friday, unconfirmed reports said one of the suspects had handed himself over to the police.
Police have confirmed that it was car wash worker Ngubane who turned himself in, only to be freed by the same authorities.
Explaining the reason why Ngubane was set free, spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe on Saturday, 31 May 2025, said: “The South African Police Service (SAPS) wishes to inform the nation that Fezile Ngubane, who was initially identified as a suspect in a syndicate targeting young women, has been cleared”.
Brigadier Mathe added: “Ngubane’s father handed him in at the KwaMashu Police station on Friday when he learnt that his son was sought by police in the Olorato murder case.
“According to a preliminary report, Ngubane washes cars for a living and stays in the same neighbourhood as deceased Philangenkosi Makhanya.
“Makhanya allegedly identified Ngubane as a soft target and took his ID smart card and used it to Rica SIM cards that Makhanya would use to commit his long list of kidnapping and robbery crimes targetted at young women.
“At times, it’s alleged that he would use Ngubane’s bank card to buy at various clothing stores.”
Brigadier Mathe said Ngubane’s ID was found as part of the 27 ID smart cards found in possession of the deceased.
“The SAPS has also released the parents of one of the two suspects in the case after their statements were taken down,” said Brigadier Mathe.
“Police are sitting with at least 20 cases where women have come forward identifying the suspects as those who kidnapped and robbed them.”
She said some of these cases were reported in Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, Midrand, Ogies, Mbombela (Nelspruit), Pretoria, and Johannesburg.
“The search for Bongani Mthimkhulu continues, and police once again call on Mthimkhulu to hand himself over at his nearest police station,” Brigadier Mathe said.
