UPDATE: Wrongly accused man cleared in Olorato Mongale murder case as key suspect killed in shoot-out
Police are intensifying the search for the deceased's alleged accomplice, Bongani Mthimkhulu.
A suspect sought in connection with the murder of Olorato Mongale was killed in a shoot-out with police on Friday morning.
According to SAPS, Philangenkosi Makhanya was traced to a block of apartments in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal.
When SAPS announced their arrival, he shot at them and police returned fire.
Makhanya was declared dead at the scene. In his possession, police found more than 27 ID smart cards belonging to various men and about 20 cellphones.
Police are still searching for Bongani Mthimkhulu. Police have narrowed the investigation and now know that Makhanya and Mthimkhulu were working together targeting women in various malls across the country.
Described as a romance dating scam, they would pretend to like or fall in love with young women and once they agreed to meet them in person, they would prepare to kidnap and rob them of money.
Investigators are now standing at 20 cases linked to the pair, one of which took place in Brakpan.
The two were arrested by local police on April 20 for the violent kidnapping and robbery of a woman in Dalpark Ext 6.
READ PREVIOUS STORY HERE: Romance robber and accomplice in cuffs
Further investigations have also cleared Fezile Ngubane, one of the men initially identified by police as a suspect in the murder.
Ngubane’s father handed him in at the KwaMashu Police Station on Friday when he learnt that his son was sought by police.
A multi-disciplinary team led by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection in Gauteng Major General Mbuso Khumalo, the SAPS National Anti-kidnapping task team, KZN and Gauteng Provincial Investigating Unit (PIU) cleared Ngubane following a thorough interview and preliminary investigation.
According to a preliminary report, Ngubane washes cars for a living and stays in the same neighbourhood as 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 crimes targeted at young women.
It’s alleged that he would use Ngubane’s bank card at times to buy at various clothing stores.
Ngubane’s ID was found as part of the 27 ID smart cards found in possession of Makhanya.
The SAPS has also released the parents of one of the two suspects in the case after their statements were taken down.
Police once again call on Mthimkhulu to hand himself over at the nearest police station.
