Gauteng police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi reported that Ndlovu was gathering his wife from a church service when attackers assaulted him and his partner.
“That as she approached their vehicle, three unknown men—one reportedly armed with a firearm—suddenly approached them, pushed her aside and forced her husband into the backup seat,” she said.
The suspects then drove off with the victim.
“The vehicle—a Ford Raptor pickup‑truck, commonly called a bakkie in South Africa—was later recovered abandoned in Walkerville, south of Johannesburg, police confirmed.”
“Ndlovu’s body was discovered beside a road on Wednesday by local residents in Thokoza and appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds.”
His luggage was found a short distance away on Gauteng’s East Rand, a densely populated urban and industrial zone east of Johannesburg.
Authorities are probing the case as a murder investigation, though a post‑mortem exam will determine the precise cause of death.
In this phase, the family awaits additional details from the relevant agencies concerning the circumstances surrounding Ndlovu’s death,” said family representative Eugene Mthethwa.
The bereaved described the loss as devastating and expressed gratitude to residents, police, and the wider public who assisted in searching for him following the news of the abduction.
Ndlovu was well‑known to South African sport fans for years spent as a presenter and producer on the SABC.
He also contributed to radio coverage of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League and later championed musicians’ rights and fair royalty payments.
The 54‑year‑old was linked to Artists United and the SABC Summer Song of the Year programme.
Lelo Mzaca, a colleague reporter, recalled him as a man living a colourful, energetic life who infused enthusiasm and flair into sports broadcasting.
“South Africa has lost a unique and spirited individual whose light shone brightly while it lasted,” Mzaca wrote, sharing the sentiment on the Mail & Guardian,
Gauteng’s provincial government urged communities to assist police with the probe, emphasizing that combating crime remains a top priority.
The killing once more highlights the persistence of violent crime across South Africa, where armed robberies and vehicle hijackings continue to dominate headlines.
When disbursing the figures last month, acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia warned that serious crimes deepen community fear and suggested many operations are run by orchestrated, heavily armed gangs.
