By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA Police Services (SAPS) have cleared Fezile Ngubane in the gruesome murder of Wits University student Olorato Mongale.
Mongale was last seen on Sunday, she was on a date with a man she had met a few days earlier at a shopping centre.
CCTV footage showed her leaving a location in Kew, Johannesburg, and walking towards a white VW Polo with fake licence plates.
She texted one of her friends shortly before leaving home, saying that she was excited and getting ready for her date. But police later found her body in an open field, sparking public outrage and calls for justice.
A candlelight vigil was held on Wednesday evening in Lombardy West, at the site where her body was found.
Family and friends have described her as an outspoken, bubbly woman who “lived with purpose and love”.
Ngubane was first identified as one of three suspects in the 30-year-old’s murder, along with Bongani Mthimkhulu and the late Philangenkosi Makhanya.
However, police says after thorough investigations, it’s been found that Ngubane is a victim, not a suspect.
Fullview leanrt that Ngubane handed himself over to police after he was linked to Mongale’s murder through SIM cards that were RICA’d to his name.
According to police, at least 28 SIM cards that were being used by Makhanya were registered in his name.
National police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said on Saturday, Ngubane’s father handed him over to KwaMashu police on Friday when he learnt his son was being sought by police in the Mongale murder case.
“A multidisciplinary team led by the deputy provincial commissioner for crime detection in Gauteng, Maj-Gen Mbuso Khumalo, the SAPS national anti-kidnapping task team, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provincial investigating unit (PIU) have now cleared Ngubane after a thorough interview and preliminary investigation.”
A preliminary report found Ngubane washes cars for a living and stays in the same neighbourhood as Makhanya, who died during a confrontation with police at an Amanzimtoti flat on Friday.
Mathe said Makhanya identified Ngubane as a soft target and took his ID smart card and used it to Rica SIM cards. These were alleged used by Makhanya to commit kidnapping and robbery involving young women. Makhanya is alleged to have also used Ngubane’s bank card at various clothing stores.
Ngubane’s ID was found as part of a batch of smart cards found in Makhanya’s possession at a flat belonging to a man who rents vehicles.
Mathe said the parents of one of the two suspects were released after they deposed statements.
The search for Mthimkulu, the remaining suspect, is ongoing, and authorities are urging him to surrender to the nearest police station.