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.
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.
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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.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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