Nearly four weeks have passed since the brutal murder of Olorato Mongale, a Wits University postgraduate, shocked the nation—and still, the manhunt for prime suspect Bongani Mthimkhulu continues with no arrest in sight. The South African Police Service (SAPS) remains in high gear, scouring the country for Mthimkhulu, who has been declared “armed and dangerous” and is now the focus of a nationwide fugitive alert.
According to investigators, Mthimkhulu was allegedly part of a predatory syndicate that lured women through calculated scams at shopping malls, posing as dates before turning to robbery and, in Mongale’s case, murder. His suspected accomplice, Philangenkosi Makhanya, was killed in a dramatic shootout with police in KwaZulu-Natal just five days after Mongale’s death.
The case has sent shockwaves across South Africa, with law enforcement confirming that Mthimkhulu and Makhanya have been linked to at least 25 robbery and kidnapping incidents across six provinces. Their chilling pattern of targeting women has ignited renewed national anger over gender-based violence, a scourge that continues to haunt the country.
A warrant for Mthimkhulu’s arrest was issued after he failed to appear in court on June 4. Deputy Police Minister Dr Polly Boshielo, speaking passionately at Mongale’s funeral, promised justice would be served and appealed directly to the fugitive: “We will not rest until we find Bongani Mthimkhulu… advise him to surrender.”
As the search drags into its fourth week, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant. Any sightings or information should be reported immediately—but with a clear warning: do not approach him. Mthimkhulu is considered extremely dangerous, and until he is behind bars, the fear and fury surrounding this case will only grow louder.
