Police say they are closing in on Bongani Mthimkulu, the remaining suspect of an alleged kidnapping syndicate that targeted young women at shopping malls in several provinces.

Mthimkulu is the second suspect in Olorato Mongale’s murder case, that police are still searching for.

The main suspect, Philangenkosi Makhanya, was killed during a shootout with police at Amanzimtoti in KwaZulu-Natal last week.

Video | Limpopo police focus on kidnapping syndicates:

Mongale’s body was found dumped in Lombardy north of Johannesburg over a week ago.

National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe clarified that the syndicate they were referring to was a two-member syndicate which included Philangenkosi Makhaya who was shot and killed during a confrontation with KZN police and Bongani.

“That is the only syndicate that we had identified that was going around the country targeting woman in various malls in various provinces. We are counting Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu- Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga as well as North West,” adds Mathe.

PODCAST | Olorato Mongale murder laid bare risks SA women face: