POLICE FIND HUMAN REMAINS SUSPECTED TO BE OF MISSING JOURNALIST AND PARTNER

Thu 08 May 2025:

The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has confirmed that the police have found human remains in an open veld in the KwaMhlanga area in Mpumalanga. 

Police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said DNA testing will be conducted to ascertain if they belong to missing Pretoria-based journalist and his partner. 

“The area where the remains were found was pointed out by suspects as an area where they left the pair,” said Mathe on Thursday.

The couple had been missing since 18 February 2025.

On Sunday, a cross-province operation involving Gauteng and Mpumalanga police — led by the Deputy National Commissioner of Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya and the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph MKhwanazi — led to the questioning and subsequent arrests of four suspects.

The first suspect, according to investigations, is said to have been the last in the company of the missing couple.

The second, third and fourth suspects were found with different vehicle parts believed to be that of Ndlovu. 

One of those arrested is said to be a mechanic who builds and fixes cars in KwaMhlanga.

Two of the Volkswagen Citi Golfs that were found in the possession of the suspects have been seized.

The couple vanished on February 18 after visiting Denlyn Mall in Mamelodi West.

Their disappearance initially triggered a missing persons alert, which later escalated into a full kidnapping and hijacking investigation after the discovery of stripped car parts.

During a media briefing earlier this week, Masemola confirmed that five suspects, all of whom are South African nationals, had been taken into custody in relation to the case.

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Suspects include a teenager

They face charges of kidnapping, carjacking, house robbery, possession of stolen property, possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle, and drug possession.

“Three suspects have already appeared before the KwaMhlanga magistrate’s court. Two more are expected to appear this week,” said Masemola.

“One of the suspects is a 17-year-old minor who has been released into the care of his parents.”

Police said they recovered two VW Citi Golfs fitted with parts allegedly from Ndlovu’s vehicle.

Several household items stolen from the couple’s KwaMhlanga home — including a fridge, stove, microwave, and blankets — were also found.

The multidisciplinary investigation has included units from cybercrime, organised crime, and serious and violent crime, as well as the police’s airwing and drone teams.

Masemola said that all possible leads were being followed.

“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 at the time.

Concern was raised by the disappearance of Ndlovu and Mdluli, which attracted the attention of prominent government figures and entertainers.