Read more
Phila Makhanya was found hiding at a residential complex in Amanzimtoti, KZN, and shot dead.
Mongale’s body was later found in Lombardy West on Sunday afternoon. Picture: X/@joy_zelda
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says the man linked to the murder of Olorato Mongale confessed to the crime before he was shot.
Phila Makhanya was found hiding at a residential complex in Amanzimtoti in KZN.
Police said Makhanya opened fire when officers announced their arrival, and he was killed in the subsequent shootout.
On the run
Mkhwanazi said Makhanya had come to Amanzimtoti to hire a car from a person living in the complex.
He said Makhanya confessed to Mongale’s murder to the owner of the unit in the complex, and it was during that time that he was identified as one of the suspects in the murder of Mongale.
WATCH: Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi speaking about the suspect’s confession
[WATCH] KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says the man who was wanted for #OloratoMongale's murder allegedly confessed to killing her. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/hM0SiN37ty
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) May 30, 2025
Confession
The owner of the unit in the complex tried to convince Makhanya to hand himself over.
“We’ve been working the whole night, trying to locate these people [the suspects]. Eventually, we arrived at Amanzimtoti. The suspect arrived here with the intention to hire a vehicle. There is an individual here who is renting out the cars, and he has rented out cars to him before.
“Allegedly, the guy says that upon seeing his [Makhanya’s] face circulated on the media, he then decided he’s not going to give him [Makhanya] the vehicle to escape and tried the whole day to convince him to hand himself over. He confessed, according to the witness. The owner of the place said he confessed to him about what he did in Joburg,” Mkhwanazi said.
ALSO READ: JUST IN: Main suspect in murder of Olorato Mongale shot dead in KZN
Suicide
Mkhwanazi said Makhanya wanted to commit suicide.
“When he asked him [Makhanya] about the second suspect, he said he was told the other suspect is going to Zimbabwe. So, he [the second suspect] has disappeared, and we are still trying to locate him as well.
“So, when the team eventually arrived here, they were able to get into this apartment, and unfortunately, there was an engagement inside and the suspect was shot,” Mkhwanazi said.
Fake IDs and mobile phones
Mkhwanazi said officers also found several mobile phones and identity documents in Makhanya’s possession.
“We know the main suspect was this one that we managed to locate here. The team in Gauteng is tracing the other suspect, sharing information with us. Thus far, the two that assisted him [Makhanya] to escape, who drove with him yesterday, picked him up, dropping him off here, and drew money from the bank are the ones we also have in custody as accomplices in escaping and evading arrest”.
Escape
On Thursday, the mother and father of one of the suspects linked to Mongale’s death were taken into custody for allegedly tipping off their son that the police were looking for him.
“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.
The mother’s actions allowed their son to evade arrest on Wednesday evening, the police said. When officers arrived in Inanda, KZN, where the suspect stayed, he had already left.
Mkhwanazi said both parents have been released.
“Taking them [parents] was part of the investigation in locating him [Makhanya].
ALSO READ: Big development in search for Olorato Mongale’s killers
Tip offs
Mkhwanazi said police received over 90 calls about Makhanya.
“We know that he also has a kidnapping case in KwaMashu, which he was supposed to appear in court for. We know of a court case in Brakpan where he was supposed to appear on Monday on a kidnapping case as well,” Mkhwanazi said.
“We have no less than 28 ID cards and no less than 20 cellphones found in his possession. He’s been moving around with a safe; we don’t know for what purpose. So, we are still trying to trace the IDs and who they belong to. As for the cellphones, we are still going to download all of them and link them up.
“We’d like to believe there are a lot of victims who are involved with this guy,” Mkhwanazi said.
Suspects
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.
The police had already processed two of the three suspects in the system before connecting them to Mongale’s death.
Mathe revealed that the police arrested Bongani Mthimkhulu and Phila Makhanya on 20 April, on charges of kidnapping and robbery in the Brockbunny area.
Murder
Mongale was last seen on Sunday when she went on a date with her alleged killer, who picked her up from her residential complex in Athol, Johannesburg, driving a white VW Polo with a cloned number plate that belonged to a Toyota Hilux.
Mongale’s body was later found in Lombardy West on Sunday afternoon by police with the assistance of community members.
ALSO READ: Olorato Mongale: Suspect’s parents arrested for aiding escape in murder case
Download our app
