Found the dissolved body of South African journalist, say colleagues

The bodies of a journalist and his partner were found in South Africa in an advanced phase of decomposition, more than two months after they were missing, local media groups said.

The police said they had found human remains, but DNA tests still had to be performed to confirm that they were those of radio journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Severa Precious Mdhluli.

In a joint statement, two media groups said that the police had reached a breakthrough after arresting five suspects.

The couple were murdered and their bodies dumped in a bush in the northern province of Limpopo, said the media groups, adding that the dead had left them in shock and disbelief.

The suspects were reportedly arrested with stolen furniture, devices and the parts of a car of the couple that had been missing since 18 February.

Ndlovu was the founder of a local radio station, Capital Live, in the capital Pretoria in South Africa.

The African Media and Communicators Forum (AMCF) and the National Press Club (NPC) said that a forensic team had already identified the remains of the couple.

“I am terribly sad. We kept the hope that despite the number of days the couple was missing, they would still be found alive. Our deepest condolences are going to the families of our brother and sister,” said AMCF chairman Elijah Mhlanga.

South Africa has one of the highest crime figures in the world, with many people living in fear.

Official data showed that 26,232 murders took place in 2024, on average 72 per day.