Latest news with #SamuelMogongwe
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
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.
