'I can't stop thinking about her laugh': Tributes flow for murdered Olorato Mongale
The murder of 30-year-old Olorato Mongale, a student whose life was full of promise and light, has left a community shattered and a family drowning in grief.
As news of her death spread, an outpouring of love, sorrow and anger has emerged, painting a portrait of a bright soul stolen far too soon.
The body of the missing young woman was found in Lombardy East, Johannesburg, in the early hours of Monday morning. The heartbreaking discovery was confirmed by family spokesperson Criselda Kananda.
Olorato, a Rhodes University graduate who was studying for an advanced degree at Wits, was reported missing on Sunday afternoon after going on a date with a man who picked her up from Kew, Johannesburg.
Disturbing CCTV pictures circulating on social media show Mongale dressed in a black sweater, black shirt and white shoes leaving a location in Kew and walking towards a white VW Polo.
Kananda revealed that Mongale's body was 'brutally violated', adding a sombre weight to the tragedy that has rocked the community.
Bianca Cele, a close friend, said Olorato was a beacon of light.
'Olorato was the bright spark behind an iconic pic of me from #FeesMustFall that trended as a meme. She posted it to troll me, because she could never understand how someone so silly online could be so serious in real life.
'She made you laugh even in chaos ... That was her gift. Her humour, her warmth, her laughter, she was infectious and unforgettable,' said Cele.
'That's what I'll hold onto. Her laugh. Her light,' Cele said.
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