South African Sports Broadcaster Owen Ndlovu Found Dead After Hijacking

South African sports broadcaster Owen Ndlovu has been found dead, hours after he was abducted during an alleged vehicle hijacking near Johannesburg.

Ndlovu, 54, was reportedly taken on Tuesday evening while he was picking up his wife from a church in Katlehong, east of Johannesburg, according to police.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said three men approached the couple as they were leaving the church. One of the suspects was reportedly armed with a gun.

The attackers allegedly pushed Ndlovu’s wife aside before forcing him into the back of his Ford Raptor pickup truck and driving away.

The vehicle was later discovered abandoned in Walkerville, south of Johannesburg, prompting police to begin searching for Ndlovu and the suspects.

The following morning, residents found Ndlovu’s body beside a road in neighbouring Thokoza. Witnesses said he appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds. A bag believed to belong to him was also found near the body.

Police have opened a murder investigation and launched a manhunt for the three suspects believed to have been involved in the hijacking and abduction. A post-mortem examination will be conducted to establish the official cause of death.

The exact circumstances surrounding Ndlovu’s killing remain under investigation.

“At this stage, the family is awaiting further information from the relevant authorities regarding the circumstances surrounding Owen’s death,” family spokesperson Eugene Mthethwa said.

Ndlovu’s family described his death as devastating and expressed gratitude to police officers, residents and others who assisted in the search after his disappearance was reported.

The broadcaster was a familiar figure to South African sports audiences through his work with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). He worked as a presenter and producer and was also involved in radio coverage of the Premier Soccer League.

His career extended beyond sports broadcasting. Ndlovu later became involved in issues affecting musicians, particularly concerns surrounding artists’ rights and royalty payments.

He was associated with Artists United and the SABC Summer Song of the Year initiative, maintaining links with South Africa’s wider creative industry.

Fellow journalist Lelo Mzaca paid tribute to Ndlovu, remembering him as an energetic and passionate professional.

“South Africa has lost a unique and spirited individual whose light shone brightly while it lasted,” Mzaca wrote in the Mail & Guardian.

The provincial government has appealed to members of the public to provide investigators with any information that could help identify and arrest those responsible for Ndlovu’s death.

His killing comes amid continuing concerns about violent crime in South Africa, where vehicle hijackings and armed robberies remain serious security challenges.

Police figures covering April to June 2026 recorded more than 5,000 murders and nearly 4,000 carjackings across the country.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said last month that serious crime continued to create fear in communities, with some offences being committed by organised and heavily armed criminal groups.

Police investigations into Ndlovu’s death remain ongoing as authorities continue searching for the suspects.