Roodepoort Teen’s Brutal Murder Sends Shockwaves Through Community

The tight-knit community of Durban Deep, Roodepoort, is in mourning and shock. A place that once echoed with the sounds of kids playing in the streets is now gripped by fear. On Monday, a passerby stumbled upon a gruesome scene under a shrub: the mutilated body of 14-year-old Likhona Fose.

She had gone missing the day before, after leaving her home with a group of friends. What started as an ordinary Sunday for her family has turned into a devastating memory they’ll carry forever.

A Community on Edge

Word of Likhona’s disappearance spread fast. Her family, neighbors, and local police launched an urgent search, hoping for a safe return. Instead, their worst fears were realized in the most horrific way.

Police confirmed that her body showed signs of mutilation, although they have yet to release details about how she died or who may be responsible. An investigation is now underway, with authorities appealing to anyone who might have information to come forward.

A Chilling Pattern Emerges

What makes this tragedy even more disturbing is that it comes just days after another violent act against a young woman.

30-year-old journalist Olorato Mongale was found dead after she went on a date in Johannesburg. Her story made headlines nationwide, not just because of her promising career, but because her death fit a pattern too familiar in South Africa.

In the wake of Mongale’s murder, police began tracking three men. One of them, Phila Makhanya, was killed in a shootout with police. Another, Bongani Mthimkhulu, is still on the run. A third man, Fezile Ngubane, was cleared after being wrongly implicated.

Misused Identity and a Web of Deceit

Ngubane’s story paints a troubling picture. He was turned in by his own father after his name appeared in the Mongale murder case. But according to police, Ngubane was being used by Makhanya, who allegedly stole his ID and used it to buy SIM cards and commit crimes under his name.

Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said police found 27 stolen ID smart cards in Makhanya’s possession, including Ngubane’s. In reality, Ngubane washed cars for a living and lived in the same neighborhood as the alleged ringleader.

Two Young Lives, Two Painful Losses

Olorato Mongale’s funeral was held on Sunday in Bloemfontein. Her friends, family, and colleagues gathered to celebrate her life and mourn the violent way it ended. Just a day later, another family began grappling with a fresh loss — this time, of a child who never even got the chance to dream big.

The connection between these two tragedies may not be official, but they share a terrifying truth: young women and girls continue to be victims of unspeakable violence, and communities are left reeling in the aftermath.

Time for More Than Just Mourning

What happened to Likhona Fose and Olorato Mongale should not be part of any normal headline. These are not just names or cases. These were lives, full of promise, stolen in moments of cruelty.

As the investigations continue, the Roodepoort community and the rest of South Africa must face an uncomfortable question: when will enough be enough?

{Source: The Citizen}

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