Olorato Mongale, a 30-year-old woman, was murdered shortly after going on a first date in Johannesburg, South Africa. Olorato took precautions for her safety. She arranged to meet her date, known only as ‘John,’ during the day and shared her location with friends. She texted them at 2:47 PM to let them know she was on her way. An hour later, her friends grew worried when she stopped responding and her location showed up in unsafe areas.
Her friends formed a search party and began following her digital trail. They found her bag discarded near a main road and reported her missing to the police. Sadly, Olorato’s body was discovered later, less than 100 meters from where her friends were searching. Police reported that she had suffered severe injuries, including blunt force trauma, and was likely beaten to death.
CCTV footage captured her leaving her apartment and approaching a white Volkswagen Polo, where she hesitated before getting in. Four days after her murder, police located the car in another province, with evidence of her blood found inside. The two men involved in her abduction were identified as part of a gang that targets women for robbery.
One suspect, Philangenkosi Sibongokuhle Makanya, was shot dead by police shortly after the vehicle was found. The second suspect, Bongani Mthimkhulu, is still at large. Authorities revealed that the men had been linked to numerous similar incidents, receiving dozens of calls from other women who had encountered them.
Olorato’s tragic death highlights the alarming issue of femicide in South Africa, where an average of 15 women are killed every day, often by intimate partners. In the past year, over 5,500 women were murdered, marking a significant increase from previous years. Advocacy groups like Women for Change are raising awareness about the growing violence against women in the country.
Olorato’s friends are struggling to cope with her loss and the violence that took her life. They emphasized that she was careful and took precautions, yet her murder shows that no one is truly safe. They hope her story will spark change and protect other women from similar fates.
The community is mourning Olorato, and her friends are determined to honor her memory by advocating for women’s safety. They believe her death must lead to action and awareness about the dangers women face daily in South Africa.