Bloemfontein, South Africa – Heartbreak filled Bloemfontein City Hall today as mourners gathered to bid a final farewell to Olorato Mongale, the 30-year-old Wits University student whose life was tragically cut short.
Olorato’s mother delivered a moving and tearful tribute, recounting the harrowing moments that followed her daughter’s sudden disappearance.
“We found her bag, her bank cards, her phone… and still hoped she’d walk through the door,” she said. “But deep down, we knew something was terribly wrong.”
Olorato went missing after going on a date on May 25, sparking a desperate search. Days later, her body was discovered in Lombardy West, Johannesburg—a horrifying confirmation of her family’s worst fears. Authorities have since confirmed she was kidnapped and murdered.
A Life Stolen, A Nation in Mourning
Olorato, remembered as intelligent, vibrant, and full of promise, was pursuing her studies at Wits University. Her death has sent shockwaves through the academic community and beyond, drawing renewed attention to the epidemic of violence against women in South Africa.
Social media platforms have been flooded with tributes and calls for justice, as friends and strangers alike mourn another young life lost too soon.
A Call for Justice
The investigation into Olorato’s murder is ongoing, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.
“She was not just a victim. She was our daughter, our sister, our friend. We want justice—not just for Olorato, but for all the women who never made it home,” her mother added.
As her loved ones laid her to rest, one message echoed loudly through the hall: this cannot keep happening.
