In a gunfight with police, a suspect sought for the murder of a South African university student has been slain.
The individual had been connected to the killing of Olorato Mongale, whose body was discovered in Johannesburg on Sunday, around two hours following her reported missing date.
Police spokesman Athlenda Mathe said early Friday morning police searches revealed the primary suspect hiding at a residential complex in the coastal town of Amanzimtoti.
Brigadier Mathe said the culprit, who has not been identified by the police, shot at the authorities who returned fire and killed him.
Regional police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi claimed that the suspect possessed twelve mobile phones and 28 ID cards at the time of his death.
The death of Ms Mongale has generated a heated discussion on the degree of violence South African women experience.
Among nations, this country has one of the highest rates of femicide and gender-based violence.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said in an emotional speech, “To all men, this is a plea – simple, urgent, and human: Please, stop killing women.” She described Ms Mongale’s murder as “inhumane” and “gruesome”.
The police arrested the parents of the dead suspect as they were still looking for two other men allegedly connected to the murder.
By alerting him on the police’s presence at her residence, the suspect’s mother is accused of helping him to “evade arrest”.
The police also mentioned that the owner of a VW Polo purportedly used in Ms Mongale’s murder is the suspect’s father.
Brig Mathe claimed that the police-seized car contained blood traces inside of it.
Commissioner Mkhwanazi added that although the suspect’s parents were questioned under custody, they have subsequently been freed.
Police claimed two of them, Mr Makhanya and Mr Mthimkhulu, were detained last month for kidnapping and robbing a woman in KwaZulu-Natal using the identical VW Polo involved in Ms Mongale’s death. Both individuals had been let go on bail.
Said police spokesman Mathe, as part of their investigation on the murder, the police have found a criminal gang or “syndicate” targeting women in malls “for kidnapping and robbery”.
“They ask to have them taken on a date and propose them. That is when they intend to rob them, she said, once they accept.
Friends of the 30-year-old claimed she was invited for a date by a man only known as John, someone she had met in Johannesburg, where she was preparing for a doctorate degree at Witwatersrand University.
