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The South African Police Service has released Fezile Ngubane, one of the suspects initially arrested in connection with the murder of Olorato Mongale.
Olorato’s body was discovered in Lombardy West, Johannesburg, on May 25, 2025. Fezile was cleared of any wrongdoing after an investigation revealed that he was, in fact, a victim of the syndicate involved in Mongale’s murder.
According to the police, Fezile’s parents brought him to the police station in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal, after learning that the police wanted to question him. The police investigation, led by the national Anti-kidnapping Task Team and the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Provincial Investigating Unit, found that Fezile was not involved in the crime.
It was discovered that Philangenkosi Mkhanya, a suspect who was later killed in a shootout with the police, had stolen Fezile’s ID smart card and used it to register SIM cards for his criminal activities.
Phila allegedly used his ID, along with 27 other smart ID cards, to commit kidnapping and robbery crimes, targeting women. The police investigation revealed that Phila’s crimes were part of a larger syndicate involved in serious offenses. Phila’s actions led to the arrest of his parents, one of whom has since been released.
Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection in Gauteng, Major General Mbuso Khumalo, confirmed his release after the investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing. Fezile, who works as a car washer, had his name cleared, and he can now continue with his life without the burden of false accusations.
The release of Fezile and another suspect highlights the importance of thorough investigations to ensure justice is served and the rights of innocent individuals are protected.
Also see: Olorato’s murder suspect gunned down in blazing shootout
