Latest news with #KwaMhlanga
The Herald
13-05-2025
- The Herald
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. TimesLIVE
The Herald
10-05-2025
- The Herald
NPA awaiting DNA results before deciding on murder charges in missing journalist and partner case
The NPA says it will wait for the results of DNA tests on samples taken from remains believed to be those of kidnapped journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhuli before charging the two men arrested for their disappearance with murder. Samuel Mogongwe, 41, and Michael Sikhosana, 40, made a brief appearance in the KwaMhlanga magistrate's court on Friday on kidnapping charges related to the couple's disappearance. On Thursday, police found remains that are believed to be those of the couple who went missing on February 18. NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said the NPA will await the results of DNA tests to establish if the remains are theirs before adding more charges against the suspects. 'At this point, we cannot rule out adding more charges, but the results of the DNA tests will guide our decision,' Nyuswa said. Earlier this week, national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola revealed that one of the suspects in the case had misled the police, diverting attention from himself. Masemola said Mogongwe, who is a driver for the family, pretended to be working with the police during the investigation while leading them on a wild-goose chase. 'It's unfortunate that somebody who was working with us, whom we thought was a witness we trusted, is a suspect,' said Masemola on Wednesday. 'The driver did tell us when last he was with the couple. Exactly the same night they went missing [February 18], he told us it was the last time he was with them, but our investigation is proving some of the things he said differently. 'When we received reports [on the case], we realised that this person [Mogongwe] is not assisting us. He is misleading us.' In a statement on Thursday, the African Media and Communicators Forum and the National Press Club said the forensic team had positively identified the remains and confirmed that Ndlovu and Mdhluli were murdered and dumped in a field in Rust de Winter, about 70km from KwaMhlanga. TimesLIVE
The Herald
09-05-2025
- The Herald
Media organisations shocked at murder of journalist and partner
The African Media and Communicators Forum and the National Press Club have expressed shock, disbelief and sadness over the deaths of journalist Sibusiso 'Aserie' Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Precious Mdhluli. The couple's remains were found on Thursday morning in an advanced stage of decomposition. The media organisations said the forensic team positively identified the remains and confirmed that Ndlovu and Mdhluli were murdered and dumped in a field in the KwaMhlanga area. The couple had been missing since February 18. The media fraternity had joined hands in calling for communities and law enforcement agencies to find the couple. After the formation of a task team, more resources were allocated, leading to a breakthrough in the case. This resulted in the arrest of five suspects, three of whom appeared in court on Wednesday. 'I am terribly sad. We held out hope that despite the number of days the couple had been missing, they would still be found alive. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of our brother and sister,' said Elijah Mhlanga, chair of the communicators forum. The two organisations have undertaken to continue supporting the family, including attending the court hearings of all the suspects. 'We are confident in the work of the authorities, that they will use all the available resources to bring to book everyone involved in the killing of our colleague and his partner,' said acting chair of the National Press Club Antoinette Slabbert. The organisations will be in court on Friday where the media application to cover the case will be heard. They brought the application on behalf of media houses. TimesLIVE
News24
07-05-2025
- News24
Kidnapped journalist, partner: Family believes motive could involve their taxi business
The family of a missing journalist and his partner claims their disappearance could be linked to their taxi business. Their loved ones claimed the alleged mastermind wanted to gain ownership of the vehicle. The alleged mastermind worked as a taxi driver for the couple. The families of the kidnapped journalist, Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu, and his partner, Zodwa Mdhluli, believe their disappearance could be linked to their family taxi business. The couple's son, Treasure Mdhluli, told News24 that Samuel Mogongwe, 41, allegedly wanted to steal the family's sedan vehicle and operate it as a taxi in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga, where the couple lives. Mogongwe was employed as the family's taxi driver. According to police commissioner Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, Mogongwe is the alleged mastermind behind the couple's disappearance and was the last person seen with them. After his parents disappeared on 18 February, Treasure contacted Mogongwe because he was allegedly the last person seen with them. Treasure said: We met on 27 February. He was driving our family taxi. He pretended that he was assisting me and the police with their investigations to find my parents. 'He showed me the certified copy of my mother's identity document and papers of the taxi.' Treasure added that Mogongwe allegedly told him that the taxi belonged to him because his parents owed him money. 'I took those documents from him because he was lying.' Treasure claimed his parents were kidnapped and robbed because Mogongwe wanted to gain ownership of their vehicle, something that police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said they were also probing. Mogongwe, Lucky Michael Sikhosana, 40, and three others, including a teenager, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly kidnapping the couple. Sikhosana was found in possession of some of the stolen assets belonging to the couple. The five accused were found in possession of stolen furniture, appliances and parts belonging to the couple's VW Golf. Police later seized two VW Golf vehicles, which were fitted with some of the parts from the couple's stripped car. Masemola added that they were confident they had arrested the right people linked to the offence. READ | Four arrested in connection with missing journalist Aserie Ndlovu, partner 'Some of them [accused] are prepared to assist us with our investigations. We are following leads leading us to where the victims are. The five suspects have since separately appeared in court.' Masemola also revealed that Mogongwe initially pretended to be a State witness when the police started probing the case. Mogongwe was arrested after he was allegedly linked to the kidnapping through cellphone records. Police are also probing charges of house robbery, possession of suspected stolen property and possession of drugs. The chairman of the African Media and Communicators Forum, Elijah Mhlanga, was confident that the police's investigations were moving in the right direction. Mhlanga said they were monitoring the case. 'We are with the family throughout their pain. The police have told us to prepare for anything,' Mhlanga said. Mogongwe and Sikhosana appeared briefly in the KwaMhlanga Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, facing two counts of kidnapping. Mogongwe and Sikhosana are expected back in the dock on Friday.
