The South African journalism community is in shock following the discovery of human remains, believed to be those of journalist, Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli.

The bitter breakthrough was made when leads sent the police to the Rapotokwane CCZ Farm (on the D2774 road in Rust de Winter) in Limpopo on May 8.

The bodies were found in an advanced stage of decomposition and DNA tests are being conducted to confirm their identity.

On Tuesday, the spokesperson of the Mpumalanga police, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, said the DNA results are still pending.

The discovery comes shortly after five men were arrested in connection with the missing persons case of Ndlovu and Mdhluli, who disappeared on February 18.

Ndubane said Ndlovu’s mother was informed about the discovery of the remains on the same day by KwaMhlanga SAPS investigating officers, Warrant Officer William Maapula and Colonel Sarah Radebe, and members of the Mamelodi SAPS.

Ndubane said Major General Richard Shibiri telephonically informed Mdhluli’s sister-in-law in Tembisa, Gauteng.

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Eight suspects face multiple charges including murder

The police have eight suspects in the Ndlovu and Mdhluli case.

The five suspects were arrested on May 4 and appeared in different courts that same week.

Three of the suspects made a court appearance last Wednesday, while Samuel Mogongwe (41) and Michael Sikhosana (40) appeared briefly in the KwaMhlanga Magistrate’s Court last Friday, on kidnapping charges related to the couple’s disappearance.

Three additional suspects, aged between 23 and 43, were arrested in Nokaneng area in KwaMhlanga on Tuesday. They are expected to appear in court soon.

The SAPS’s national spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, said in a statement that the first suspect was last seen to be in the company of the missing couple. The second, third and fourth suspects (including a KwaMhlanga mechanic) were found in possession of different vehicle parts, believed to be from Ndlovu’s car.

Mathe said two VW Citi Golfs were seized from the suspects.

The case has been upgraded to one of kidnapping and carjacking. Other charges, including house robbery and possession of stolen property, are likely to be added as investigations continue.

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Ndlovu – a celebrated creative

Ndlovu was an avid and versatile journalist, widely known by the Mpumalangan community after working at the African Eye News Service in Mbombela. He also attended Hlanganani Senior Secondary School in KaBokweni.

He had worked alongside Mandla Khoza, a renowned journalist in Mbombela, who described him as a people’s person. “We called him Ash. He was a good person and a family man. He was quite an open person who showed interest in the lives of many journalists, especially in Mpumalanga,” Khoza said.

“Our last meeting was in KwaMhlanga some time last year when I followed a story that side. We came down to Mbombela together as he also wanted to touch base with his relatives in Ngodini. We stopped by the Waterval Boven tunnel and he told me about his career advancements, running his community radio station in Mamelodi – called Capital Live SA 99.0 FM – and managing many national artists.”

Khoza was shocked to hear the news of his disappearance and immediately jumped into the search with the hope of reuniting with him soon.
“It is difficult news to bear, especially as a journalist, in terms of safety. I believe the investigation could uncover details that involve him as a journalist. We hope that more such details will be revealed during court proceedings,” he said.

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The African Media and Communicators Forum and the National Press Club have expressed shock, disbelief and sadness over the latest news in a joint statement. “The media fraternity across South Africa has, for the past two and half months, laboured with the agony of not knowing where the couple had gone,” the statement read.

These journalism organisations had offered a reward of R100k for any information that may lead to the discovery of the couple’s whereabouts.