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IOL News
20-05-2025
- IOL News
Four suspects charged with murder in the case of journalist Aserie Ndlovu and partner
Police believe the human remains found in Limpopo are of Pretoria journalist Aserie Sibusiso Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Precious Mdhluli, who vanished in February 18. Image: Screengrab/X Four men have been charged with two counts of murder following the discovery of two human remains believed to be of missing Pretoria journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli. The couple was last seen on February 18, 2025, at their home in Mpumalanga, in their white Volkswagen Citi Golf. The four arrested men, Samuel Mogongwe, Lucky Sikhosana, Sello Uoane and Thato Madisha are now facing charges of murder, accused of brutally murdering Ndlovu and Mdhluli by shooting them. Mpumalanga spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Monica Nyuswa told IOL that two of the four accused men will not be seeking bail. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu Image: Supplied 'All four accused who are charged for the disappearance of the victims appeared before the KwaMhlanga Magistrates' Court (on Monday). Two of them abandoned bail and two will proceed with their application,' she said. 'The matter was postponed to 29 May 2025. Two counts of murder were added to the accused.' Last week, IOL reported that police have found the remains of two people who are believed to be the couple which vanished mysteriously in February. National commissioner of the SA Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, told journalists that the remains of the two people will now undergo rigorous tests to determine their identity. The results of the DNA tests are yet to be announced. "The process with the human remains we have found, they would be taken to the pathologists and we will take DNA, process it with the closest relatives - it might be one or two relatives to determine the identity of those remains. "Then we can confirm that it is indeed them or not," Masemola, who was with Police Minister Senzo Mchunu addressed journalists in Bloemfontein at the funeral of 20-year-old Constable Boipelo Senoge who lost her life last month, alongside two colleagues, following a horrific crash at the Hennops River in Tshwane. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Earlier this month, IOL reported that the African Media and Communicators Forum (AMCF) and the National Press Club (NPC) have increased the reward for information about the missing couple from R50,000 to R100,000, while appealing to authorities to act. The arrested suspects initially faced charges including kidnapping the couple and hijacking their white Volkswagen Polo, regularly driven by Ndlovu. IOL News
The Citizen
13-05-2025
- The Citizen
Aserie Ndlovu, Zodwa Mdhluli case: Three more suspects arrested amid wait for DNA results
The three suspects are expected to appear in court this week. Public Order Police (POPs) members at the Tshwane Police Training Academy on 15 June 2024. Picture: Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu Three additional suspects have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhuli. They were apprehended in the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to the South African Police Service (Saps). This follows a public alert issued over the weekend, in which authorities asked for assistance in locating Thato David Madisha and Sello 'Skhalo' Uoane. Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu case: More suspects nabbed The police have now confirmed the arrests of Madisha and Uoane. The two men, aged 24 and 43 respectively, were found at a hideout in Nokaneng near Rust De Winter, along with a third unidentified individual. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Jabu Ndubane confirmed that the three suspects are expected to appear at the KwaMhlanga Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. They face charges of kidnapping, hijacking, and house robbery. ALSO READ: Missing KZN teen recounts alleged abduction after two-week ordeal National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola praised both the investigative team and members of the public for their role in the arrests. 'We thank the people of South Africa, particularly Mpumalanga, who have assisted our investigating team in tracing these suspects,' Masemola said in a statement. 'The social media community must also be appreciated for sharing the pictures of these suspects far and wide. 'Together, we can do more with the cooperation of communities in fighting crime and apprehending dangerous criminals.' Investigation continues into Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu's disappearance Mpumalanga Acting Police Commissioner Zeph Mkhwanazi echoed the sentiment, describing the arrests as a major breakthrough. 'We are utilising all available resources to uncover the truth behind what has transpired to the two victims. 'We are encouraged by the team's diligent efforts, which are yielding positive results,' he said. Mkhwanazi added that investigations remain ongoing, and police are committed to holding all responsible parties accountable. READ MORE: Police rescue two businessmen in Midrand after kidnapping ordeal The arrests follow the discovery of human remains near Rust De Winter, believed to belong to the missing couple. Forensic testing is currently underway to confirm the identities, with results still pending. 'A DNA matching process is already underway to match the human remains found with the DNA of close family members,' national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said on Tuesday. Ndlovu and Mdhluli were last seen on 18 February, driving in a white Volkswagen Citi Golf. Total arrests rise to eight The total number of suspects arrested in the case has now risen to eight. Previously, five individuals were apprehended in various villages around KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga. They face multiple charges, including kidnapping, carjacking, house robbery, possession of suspected stolen property, possession of a suspected stolen vehicle, and drug possession. Among them is a 17-year-old minor who was released into the custody of his parents. The others remain in custody and had already appeared in court as of last week. READ MORE: Man allegedly holds ex captive for 13 days before she escapes The first suspect arrested in connection with the case, Samuel Mogongwe, was reportedly the last person seen with the missing couple before their disappearance. The 41-year-old was well known to the victims and their families, having worked as their taxi driver. The police have recovered two VW Citi Golfs, allegedly fitted with parts suspected to be from Ndlovu's vehicle. In addition, several home appliances, including a fridge, stove, and microwave, believed to have been stolen from the couple's residence, have also been retrieved.
The Citizen
10-05-2025
- The Citizen
Have you seen these men? Police looking for two in connection with journalist's death
One of the wanted men is currently out on parole for rape. The two men wanted in connection with the disappearance of Ndlovu and his partner. Picture: Supplied/ SAPS 24-year-old Thato David Madisha and Sello 'Skhalo' Uoane must hand themselves over at their nearest police station. This is the call from police after the two were listed as suspects in the case of murdered journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli. The couple vanished in February under mysterious circumstances. They were last seen leaving their Mpumalanga home in a white Volkswagen Citi Golf. 'Police believe the [wanted] pair may have played a role or have information on the alleged kidnapping and killing of the couple. 'While tracking teams are on the ground searching for the pair, the two suspects are also advised to voluntarily hand themselves over,' said Brigadier Athlenda Mathe on Saturday. Uoane is currently out on parole for rape. Call for the community to help Anyone who may know the pair's whereabouts or have any information is advised to contact investigating officer Lieutenant Colonel Maboko on 0720302794. 5 in the dock If arrested, the two will join five others who have been nabbed already. They were traced to villages in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga, and now face multiple charges, including kidnapping, carjacking, house robbery, possession of suspected stolen property, possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle, and drug possession. Two VW Citi Golfs, allegedly fitted with parts suspected to belong to Ndlovu's car, were recovered, as were several appliances allegedly stolen from the couple's home. ALSO READ: Key witness now a suspect as fifth arrest made in missing journalist Aserie Ndlovu case Bodies found Friends and family are now waiting on DNA results to confirm if the two bodies found this week by police are those of Ndlovu and Mdhluli. The area where the remains were found was pointed out by suspects as the place where they left the pair. Additional reporting by Oratile Mashilo and Molefe Seeletsa. NOW READ: Body believed to be of missing journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu found [VIDEO]
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- The Citizen
Key witness now a suspect as fifth arrest made in missing journalist Aserie Ndlovu case
Four suspects were initially arrested on Tuesday. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola says five suspects have now been arrested in connection with the disappearance of journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Mdhluli. The couple vanished under mysterious circumstances more than two months ago. They were last seen on 18 February leaving their home in Mpumalanga, driving a white Volkswagen Citi Golf. According to the South African Police Service (Saps), four suspects were initially arrested on Tuesday. Addressing the media on Wednesday, Masemola announced the arrest of a fifth suspect. He stated that all five individuals, traced to different villages in KwaMhlanga, are South African nationals. They face multiple charges, including kidnapping, carjacking, house robbery, possession of suspected stolen property, possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle, and drug possession. Masemola also confirmed the recovery of two VW Citi Golfs allegedly fitted with parts suspected to belong to Ndlovu's car. 'Home appliances that were allegedly stolen from the home of the couple have also been recovered. ALSO READ: Missing KZN teen recounts alleged abduction after two-week ordeal 'These include a fridge, stove, microwave, blankets and other items,' he said. Three of the suspects have already appeared before the KwaMhlanga Magistrate's Court. 'The other two suspects are expected to appear today and will be joined by the other three suspects that appeared yesterday.' One of the suspects is a mechanic based in KwaMhlanga. He also revealed that one of the suspects is a 17-year-old minor, who has since been released into the care of his parents. Suspect known to Aserie Ndlovu's family It has also come to light that the first suspect arrested in the case, Samuel Mogongwe, was the last person seen with Ndlovu and Mdhluli before their disappearance. According to Mdhluli's son, Treasure, the 41-year-old man is well known to the victims and their families. Without naming him directly, Masemola said Mogongwe was 'our key witness all along' and had played a significant role in the early stages of the investigation. READ MORE: Police rescue two businessmen in Midrand after kidnapping ordeal 'He was somebody that was assisting us all along, but now it has turned out that he is a suspect himself. 'So that's part of what took the investigation so long,' he said. The commissioner confirmed that the 41-year-old man's arrest led to the three other suspects being found with parts of Ndlovu's car. 'Most of those parts and the property at home were found recently after this breakthrough of our witness that turned out to [be] a suspect later.' Investigations continue Masemola further said investigations are ongoing, and efforts to locate Ndlovu and Mdhluli continue. 'With the resources and capacity deployed, we are hopeful that we will soon get to the bottom of the motive and the whereabouts of the missing couple,' he said. 'The Saps prioritises each and every case that is reported. 'Some cases are quicker to solve, while others are more complex and require more technical expertise to be solved. 'This is such a case that required such resources.' Nearly 18 000 missing persons found over five years Masemola revealed that 17 968 people who were reported missing have been found in the past five years. 'These were adults and children that were reported as missing at police stations across the country. 'Of the figure, the number of adults found through intelligence and meticulous detective work is 15 005 adults. 'Of this figure, 8328 were female while 9165 were male,' he said. He further reported that 2 963 children under the age of 18 were found, including 1 919 girls and 967 boys. Additionally, the police recovered 3,099 bodies from water sources such as rivers and dams. 'These were people that had drowned. The teams also assisted in rescue efforts of 2 577 persons from water sources.' NOW READ: Man allegedly holds ex captive for 13 days before she escapes
IOL News
07-05-2025
- IOL News
Missing journalist and partner: How a suspect initially became police's 'trusted' key witness
Community radio journalist Aserie Sibusiso Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Precious Mdhluli have been missing since February 18. Image: Screengrab/X National commissioner of the SA Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, on Wednesday revealed that one of the suspects arrested for the disappearance of Pretoria-based radio journalist Aserie Sibusiso Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Precious Mdhluli, was initially a key witness who seemed to be helping police investigators. IOL reported on Monday that four people have been arrested, linked to the disappearance of the couple in February. The couple was last seen on February 18, 2025, leaving their home in Mpumalanga in a white Volkswagen Citi Golf. On Wednesday, Masemola said a fifth suspect has been arrested and the accused men are set to appear before the KwaMhlanga Magistrate's Court. One of the arrested suspects is a minor, aged 17. The accused have been charged with multiple crimes including kidnapping, theft, hijacking, and possession of drugs. "Only recently, it is when police got some of the clues, and when they did their further investigation that is when they came to realise that some of the things are amiss. One of the arrested persons is somebody that was driving an e-hailing vehicle for the victims. He was our key witness all along. He was somebody who was assisting us all along but now it has turned out that he is a suspect himself," "That is part of what took the investigation so long. Somebody that we trusted, that is assisting us, only later to realise that we should not be looking further but closer to where we are. That is also what led to the breakthrough and assisted in the investigation." He said vehicle parts of Ndlovu's white Volkswagen Polo were found, already fixed on two other cars, after the witness was implicated as a suspect. IOL reported on Tuesday that police have established that one of the arrested suspects in the mysterious disappearance of Ndlovu and his partner Mdhluli, was working for Mdhluli as the driver of her cab. Masemola said the cab driver was the person who was a "key witness" who was telling police investigators where he last saw the couple. Police later established that the driver had deliberately mislead them, and they arrested and charged him. "He told us the same lie, that they were not missing. He told us the last time that he was with them ... but the investigation proved a little bit different from what he was saying," said Masemola. Pretoria-based journalist Aserie Sibusiso Ndlovu was reported missing on February 18, 2025 together with his partner, Zodwa Mdhuli. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕
