On Sunday, 1 June 2025, the Bloemfontein community gathered to mourn the tragic death of Olorato Mongale, whose body was discovered on 25 May in Lombardy West, Johannesburg. During the moving funeral service, her mother, Basetsana Mongale, delivered a powerful and emotional tribute to her daughter, portraying her as a brave soul who fought till her last breath.
Basetsana described Olorato as a cautious and strong-willed young woman. Her final moments, revealed through visible signs of struggle, left an indelible mark on her grieving mother. “When I saw her at the government mortuary, I could tell she had fought for her life,” she said. Basetsana painfully shared that Olorato’s nails were missing—clear evidence, in her eyes, that her daughter resisted her attacker until the end.
Olorato had gone on a date the night she died, with a man she met at a mall in Bloemfontein. Her body was later found in an area where community members held a candlelit vigil in her honor, placing candles where her life was tragically taken.
The police launched a nationwide manhunt following the discovery. On 28 May, a vehicle containing blood linked to Olorato was found in Durban. Investigations revealed a syndicate targeting women at malls was responsible. The primary suspect was killed in a shootout with police in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal. His parents were arrested for aiding him in evading authorities, and several other suspects have since been detained.
Despite the arrests, Olorato’s family expressed mixed emotions. While justice seems to be progressing, her cousin expressed regret that the main suspect was killed, denying them the opportunity to confront him and seek closure.
Olorato’s tragic story has stirred heartbreak across South Africa. Many citizens reacted with sorrow and anger. Comments flooded social media platforms, with many lamenting the violence faced by women and praising Basetsana’s strength.
“She’s such a strong-willed woman. To speak like that at your child’s funeral is incredible,” said one mourner online. Another wrote, “No parent deserves to experience such pain. This is unbearable.”
The Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport shared images from the funeral, where Basetsana bid a tearful farewell to her daughter. Dignified yet shattered, she stood as a symbol of countless South African parents grappling with the violent loss of their children.
In the days since Olorato’s passing, there have been calls for increased safety measures for women, particularly around public spaces like malls. Her story has added urgency to ongoing conversations about gender-based violence in South Africa.
Olorato Mongale’s death is a stark reminder of the dangers women face daily. But through her mother’s words and the public’s outpouring of support, her memory lives on as a symbol of resistance, courage, and the fight for justice.