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The Citizen
13-05-2025
- The Citizen
Three more arrested in Pretoria journalist and partner murders after community tip-off
Three more arrested in Pretoria journalist and partner murders after community tip-off A major breakthrough has been made in the double murder case of Pretoria journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli, after community members helped police track down and arrest three more suspects linked to the crime. The decomposed bodies of Ndlovu and Mdhluli were found last week in KwaMhlanga. The couple had been missing since February 18, 2025. A total of eight suspects have now been arrested in connection with the double murder, with several already having appeared in court. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said police issued an alert requesting members of the public to assist the SAPS in tracing two outstanding suspects in this case on Saturday. 'On Monday evening, SAPS crime intelligence officers, detectives, and the cybercrime unit, with the assistance of the community, pounced on the suspects at their hideout in Nokaneng near Rust De Winter, where the human remains believed to be of the missing journalist and partner were found. A DNA matching process is already underway to match the human remains found with the DNA of close family members.' Mathe confirmed that 24-year-old Thato 'Small' Madisha and 43-year-old Sello Uoane were arrested early on Tuesday morning. A third suspect in the case was also arrested. General Fannie Masemola has commended the multidisciplinary team working on this case as well as the community members who assisted with information on the hideout of these three suspects. 'We thank the people of South Africa, particularly Mpumalanga, who have assisted our investigating team in tracing these suspects. 'The social media community must also be appreciated for sharing pictures of these suspects from far and wide. Together, we can do more with the cooperation of communities in fighting crime and apprehending dangerous criminals,' concluded Gen Fannie Masemola. Meanwhile, the African Media and Communicators Forum (AMCF) and the National Press Club (NPC) commend the police for their continued hard work in solving the case. Also read: Murdered and dumped: Remains of missing Pretoria journalist and partner identified Also read: Human remains found in missing Pretoria journalist case; suspects led police to site Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
12-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Media organisations welcome court order permitting recording of proceedings in Aserie Ndlovu case
The KwaMhlanga magistrate's court on Monday permitted media houses to record proceedings in the case involving the kidnappings and suspected murders of journalist Sibusiso 'Aserie' Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli. The decision was welcomed by the African Media and Communicators Forum (AMCF) and the National Press Club (NPC), which brought an application before the court on behalf of several media houses after the media were barred last week from recording the proceedings or taking photographs of the accused without a formal application. The media houses include the Sunday Times, Kaya FM, News24, SABC, Newzroom Afrika, eNCA, Sowetan and Eyewitness News. The two organisations said they understood not every South African could physically attend court proceedings and this order would ensure that people could stay informed about crucial developments in the case through the eyes of the media. Acting chairperson of the NPC, Antoinette Slabbert, said the organisation would ensure justice was served for the couple. 'Today's order enables us to take our audiences with us as we follow the court proceedings to ensure that those who did these terrible things to the couple account for their evil deeds.' Chairperson of the AMCF Elijah Mhlanga said the ruling not only upheld the principles of transparency and public access to justice but also allowed the community to stay informed about matters of great public interest. 'Such coverage fosters an environment where justice is not only done but is also seen to be done. The court order reinforces the democratic principle that justice should be accessible to all.' As the case returns to court next Monday, the organisations said they would continue to monitor the proceedings and support the families.
Daily Maverick
09-05-2025
- Daily Maverick
Police discover bodies believed to be those of missing journalist and his partner
Police have uncovered the remains of what they believe to be Pretoria journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Precious Mdhluli, who mysteriously vanished on 18 February 2025. The discovery of the bodies follows the arrest of five suspects on Sunday, 4 May, who had been linked to the disappearance of the couple. Police Commissioner Major General Fannie Masemola said one of the suspects had pointed out an area where a police search discovered human remains. The remains were found next to each other in a thicket outside Rust De Winter in Limpopo, nearly 72km from where the couple was last seen nearly three months ago, on 18 February 2025. Masemola confirmed the grisly find on the boundary of Gauteng and Limpopo. 'Whether it's them or not, we are not sure. But we will do the necessary processes in terms of DNA … to check whether it's them or not.' Daily Maverick reported this week that police found parts belonging to Ndlovu's car in some of the suspects' vehicles. Furniture and other household appliances which had been stolen at the Ndlovus' house during a break-in were also recovered from the suspects. Two of the suspects, Samuel Mogongwe, 41, and Lucky Michael Sikhosana, 40, appeared in the Kwa Mhlanga Magistrates' court on kidnapping charges on Wednesday, 7 May. A suspect also appeared in a Pretoria court, but the matter was transferred to Kwa Mhlanga. The South African Police Service told Daily Maverick on 24 April that the search and investigation had been escalated to the provincial head office and the docket assigned to a senior investigating officer. Masemola confirmed to the media that forensic experts would conduct rigorous testing to establish the identities of the remains. Reward doubled Last week, the African Media and Communicators Forum (AMCF) and the National Press Club (NPC), which had offered a reward in exchange for information that could lead to the couple's whereabouts, increased the reward from R50,000 to R100,000. The organisations expressed their sadness and shock on Thursday, 8 May. 'We would like to thank the South African Police Service, the leadership and each and every member of the force that assisted in this search for the couple. We are devastated. We are devastated,' the organisations said in a statement. 'Thanks to all the colleagues who assisted with keeping the search on the agenda. We were unable to bring them back home alive, but at least the families can get closure, and we can bury them with dignity. Our deepest sympathy to Zodwa and Aserie's family and friends and colleagues. We will follow the court process closely. The law must now take its course.' Family and friends distraught Daily Maverick approached several family members and friends, but most were in no state to speak. Bongi Mokoena, Zodwa's best friend, cried bitterly on the phone for several minutes until her mother (whose full name we could not ascertain) took over the call. Mokoena's mother, too, was emotional, but managed to communicate. 'We are all devastated,' Mokoena's mother said. 'Where do the people who commit murders in this country come from?' she asked. She said her daughter was preparing to head for Kwa Mhlanga to follow the court case. Mokoena's mother said Mdhluli 'was so free. When she saw me, she saw her own mother.' 'Zodwa was a decent person. She was a very nice person. She was a loving mother and also loved her family a lot. She was just a loving person. When she went to the shops, she would bring food, but would also bring a lot more for the children,' she said. Speaking to the media on Thursday afternoon, Deputy National Police Commissioner Major General Shadrack Sibiya said the accused who had pointed out where the remains might be could not remember the specific spot where they had disposed of the bodies. 'They dumped the bodies at night and could not specifically remember where. Police had to comb the entire area, and that's when we found the remains,' Sibiya said. DM
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Shock as missing South African journalist's decomposed body found
The bodies of a journalist and his partner have been found in South Africa in an advanced stage of decomposition, more than two months after they went missing, local media groups have said. Police said they had found human remains, but DNA tests still needed to be conducted to confirm they were those of radio journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Precious Mdhluli. In a joint statement, two media groups said that police had achieved a breakthrough after arresting five suspects. The couple were murdered and their bodies dumped in a bush in northern Limpopo province, the media groups said, adding that the deaths had left them in shock and disbelief. The suspects had reportedly been arrested with stolen furniture, appliances and the parts of a car belonging to the couple who had been missing since 18 February. The African Media and Communicators Forum (AMCF) and the National Press Club (NPC) said that a forensic team had already identified the remains as those of the couple. "I am terribly sad. We held out hope that despite the number of days that the couple had gone missing, they would still be found alive. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of our brother and sister," said AMCF chairperson Elijah Mhlanga. South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world, with many people living in fear. Official data showed that 26,232 murders took place in 2024, an average of 72 per day. South Africa's frontline volunteer crime fighters Polygamy and pageantry on display at a mass wedding Is it checkmate for South Africa after Trump threats? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
The South African
08-05-2025
- The South African
BREAKING: Missing journalist and partner confirmed dead
Pretoria-based radio station Capital Live SA 99.0 FM has confirmed the deaths of its founder and journalist, Sibusiso 'Aserie' Ndlovu, and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli, who had been missing since 18 February. On Thursday, national police commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed that they found human remains believed to be of the couple at a site that was pointed out by one of the suspects arrested in connection with their disappearance. In a statement, the Pretoria-based radio station said after weeks of uncertainty and hope, their remains were sadly discovered on Thursday morning in the KwaMhlanga area in Mpumalanga, at an advanced stage of decomposition. 'Following a thorough investigation, the forensic team has positively identified both Ndlovu and Mdhluli and confirmed that they were brutally murdered and dumped in a veld. This senseless and cruel act has not only shaken us but left a void in the media community, in our hearts, and in the lives of everyone they touched,' the radio station said. In a joint statement, the African Media and Communicators Forum (AMCF) and the National Press Club (NPC) who have also been at the forefront in the search for Ndlovu and his partner expressed shock and sadness at the news of their passing. Chairperson of the African Media and Communicators Forum Elijah Mhlanga, said he is sad. 'We held out hope that despite the number of days that the couple had gone missing, they would still be found alive. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of our brother and sister,' Mhlanga said. Mhlanga said the AMFC and NPC have undertaken to continue supporting the family during this difficult time, including attendance of the court cases of all the suspects. Likewise, acting chairperson of the NPC Antoinette Slabbert, they are confident in the work of the authorities, that they will use all the available resources to bring to book everyone who was involved in the killing of Sbusiso Ndlovu and his partner. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
