By: Xoalani Khumalo
The main suspect linked to the murder of 30-year-old Wits University student Olerato Mongale has been shot and killed by police in a shootout in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban.
Police say that when they located Philangenkosi Makhanya, he opened fire on officers, who returned fire, fatally wounding him on the scene.
Makhanya was one of three men wanted in connection with Mongale’s murder. The other two suspects, Fezile Ngubane and Bongani Mthimkhulu, remain at large.
Mongale’s body was discovered last Sunday after it had been dumped near Alexandra township in northern Johannesburg.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said officers had worked around the clock to track down the prime suspect.
“Our teams acted swiftly and decisively after receiving information about Makhanya’s whereabouts,” said Mkhwanazi.
Police have urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ngubane and Mthimkhulu to come forward.
