Former SABC presenter Owen Ndlovu was kidnapped and killed in South Africa

Former SABC presenter Owen Ndlovu, who broadcast sports in South Africa for many years, was found dead after being kidnapped near Johannesburg.

According to the police, the incident occurred on Tuesday evening in the Katlehong district in the east of Johannesburg. Ndlovu was attacked by armed men when he went to pick up his wife after an event at the church.

Gauteng police spokesman Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi announced that three people targeted the couple as Ndlovu's wife approached the vehicle.

While it was stated that at least one of the suspects was armed, it was reported that the attackers pushed Ndlovu's wife aside and forced Ndlovu into the backseat of the vehicle.

The attackers then fled the scene with Ndlovu.

Ndlovu's Ford Raptor brand vehicle was found abandoned in the Walkerville area, south of Johannesburg, after the kidnapping.

While the search efforts initiated by the police and relatives continued, a male body was found on the side of the road in the Thokoza area the next morning.

The body was later confirmed by his family as belonging to Owen Ndlovu.

It was stated that the people who found Ndlovu's body saw gunshot wounds on his body. A bag thought to belong to Ndlovu was also found a few meters away from the body.

While the police launched a murder investigation into the incident, it was announced that the exact cause of death would be determined after the autopsy.

Efforts are continuing to capture three suspects thought to be linked to the incident.

Family spokesman Eugene Mthethwa said that information from the authorities is awaited to clarify the details of Ndlovu's death.

While the family described the loss as "devastating", they thanked the police teams, local residents and the public who supported the efforts to find Ndlovu.

Owen Ndlovu, 54, worked as a sports presenter and producer for South Africa's public broadcaster, the SABC, for many years.

Ndlovu, who also took part in the radio broadcasts of the country's Premier Football League matches, worked on musicians' royalties and payments in the following years.

Ndlovu was also linked to the Artists United and SABC Summer Song of the Year initiatives.

In the messages they published after Ndlovu's death, his colleagues commemorated the experienced broadcaster with his energy and the different style he brought to sports broadcasting.

Ndlovu's kidnapping and murder brought armed robbery and vehicle hijacking cases in South Africa back to the agenda.

More than 5 thousand murders and approximately 4 thousand vehicle thefts were recorded in the country's official police data for the period April-June 2026 in three months.

While authorities point out that some serious crimes are committed by organized crime groups that act in a planned manner and use heavy weapons, the investigation into Ndlovu's murder continues.