Gang targeted by South African police for abducting women from malls

South African police investigating the recent murder of university student Olorato Mongale, on Thursday, May 29, 2025, disclosed that they have dismantled a criminal syndicate that had been preying on women in shopping centres.

Authorities believe this gang, which focused on kidnapping and robbery, particularly targeted young women.

The breakthrough comes just days after Mongale’s body was found in Lombardy, north of Johannesburg.

This was shortly after she was reported missing following a date.

Olorato Mongale, a 30-year-old postgraduate student at the University of the Witwatersrand, disappeared on Sunday.

She was last seen heading toward a white VW Polo with false number plates, accompanied by a man she had recently met at a shopping centre.

Shortly before leaving home, she messaged a friend expressing excitement about the date.

Just two hours later, her body was discovered in an open field in Lombardy, sparking public outrage and calls for justice.

By late Wednesday, police had identified three suspects believed to be linked to Mongale’s death:

Fezile Ngubane, Philangenkosi Sibongokuhle Makhanya, and Bongani Mthimkhulu.

Photographs of the suspects, who are currently at large, were released to the public.

Authorities have described them as dangerous and warned citizens not to approach them.

“These suspects are warned to hand themselves over at their nearest police station,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.

The police also reported a key development in the case — the recovery of the white VW Polo allegedly used in the murder.

The vehicle, found at a panel beater workshop in Phoenix, Durban, contained traces of blood.

One man, believed to be the vehicle’s owner, has been arrested.

Police confirmed that the same vehicle had previously been used in the kidnapping and robbery of another woman in KwaZulu-Natal.

That incident led to the arrests of Makhanya and Mthimkhulu last month, although both were subsequently released on bail.

Brigadier Mathe stated that the police had successfully “broken the back of a syndicate that is targeting women, especially young women, in malls.”

She emphasized the severity of the threat posed by the gang, adding that their operations were part of a growing concern around violence against women in South Africa.

Olorato Mongale’s death has deeply shaken the public, not just because of the brutality of the crime, but also because of who she was.

Family spokesperson Criselda Kananda said that Mongale’s body was “brutally violated.”

A candlelight vigil was held on Wednesday evening at the site where her body was discovered, with friends, family, and members of the community gathering to remember her.

Described by loved ones as vibrant, outspoken, and full of love, Mongale was a journalism graduate from Rhodes University.

She had previously worked as a multimedia reporter for TimesLIVE.

Notably, during her time as a journalist, she reported on the 2017 murder of Karabo Mokoena.

Mokoena was a young woman who was killed by her boyfriend.

Her case similarly sparked national outrage.

Mongale’s murder has reignited a fierce debate in South Africa about the widespread violence faced by women.

According to recent crime statistics, between January and March 2025, 137 women were murdered and over 1,000 were raped.

The problem is deeply entrenched.

A 2020 study by the University of the Free State found that, on average, a woman in South Africa is killed by an intimate partner every eight hours.

In 2019, the United Nations ranked South Africa among the five countries with the highest female murder rates.

South Africa also has one of the world’s highest rates of sexual violence, with rape being the most frequently reported crime against children.

These ongoing issues have left many women feeling unsafe and unprotected.

This is despite continued promises from authorities to crack down on gender-based violence.

As the investigation into Mongale’s death continues and police work to apprehend the remaining suspects, her story serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic change.

Her life, and tragic death, have become a symbol of the broader struggle women face daily in South Africa.

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