Kidnapped journalist, partner: Family believes motive could involve their taxi business
Their loved ones claimed the alleged mastermind wanted to gain ownership of the vehicle.
The alleged mastermind worked as a taxi driver for the couple.
The families of the kidnapped journalist, Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu, and his partner, Zodwa Mdhluli, believe their disappearance could be linked to their family taxi business.
The couple's son, Treasure Mdhluli, told News24 that Samuel Mogongwe, 41, allegedly wanted to steal the family's sedan vehicle and operate it as a taxi in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga, where the couple lives.
Mogongwe was employed as the family's taxi driver.
According to police commissioner Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, Mogongwe is the alleged mastermind behind the couple's disappearance and was the last person seen with them.
After his parents disappeared on 18 February, Treasure contacted Mogongwe because he was allegedly the last person seen with them.
Treasure said:
We met on 27 February. He was driving our family taxi. He pretended that he was assisting me and the police with their investigations to find my parents.
'He showed me the certified copy of my mother's identity document and papers of the taxi.'
Treasure added that Mogongwe allegedly told him that the taxi belonged to him because his parents owed him money.
'I took those documents from him because he was lying.' Treasure claimed his parents were kidnapped and robbed because Mogongwe wanted to gain ownership of their vehicle, something that police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said they were also probing.
Mogongwe, Lucky Michael Sikhosana, 40, and three others, including a teenager, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly kidnapping the couple.
Sikhosana was found in possession of some of the stolen assets belonging to the couple.
The five accused were found in possession of stolen furniture, appliances and parts belonging to the couple's VW Golf.
Police later seized two VW Golf vehicles, which were fitted with some of the parts from the couple's stripped car.
Masemola added that they were confident they had arrested the right people linked to the offence.
READ | Four arrested in connection with missing journalist Aserie Ndlovu, partner
'Some of them [accused] are prepared to assist us with our investigations. We are following leads leading us to where the victims are. The five suspects have since separately appeared in court.'
Masemola also revealed that Mogongwe initially pretended to be a State witness when the police started probing the case.
Mogongwe was arrested after he was allegedly linked to the kidnapping through cellphone records.
Police are also probing charges of house robbery, possession of suspected stolen property and possession of drugs.
The chairman of the African Media and Communicators Forum, Elijah Mhlanga, was confident that the police's investigations were moving in the right direction.
Mhlanga said they were monitoring the case.
'We are with the family throughout their pain. The police have told us to prepare for anything,' Mhlanga said.
Mogongwe and Sikhosana appeared briefly in the KwaMhlanga Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, facing two counts of kidnapping.
Mogongwe and Sikhosana are expected back in the dock on Friday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
4 hours ago
- News24
McKenzie on Kunene's visit to DJ Sumbody murder accused: ‘He was set up'
The PA's deputy president and Johannesburg MMC for transport, has been suspended for one month. Businessman Katiso Molefe was arrested in connection with DJ Sumbody's November 2022 murder but Kunene claims he was only at his house during the police raid to facilitate an interview. PA leader McKenzie has ordered an internal investigation by lawyers to protect the party's integrity. Kenny Kunene was set up and had nothing to do with the murder case of Oupa John Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody in 2022. This is according to Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie, who added that Kunene 'would never get involved with murderers'. However, McKenzie said he was left with no choice but to suspend his deputy for a month. Kunene was found at the Sandton home of businessman Katiso 'Kat' Molefe during a police raid on Monday. Molefe was arrested in connection with Sefoka's murder. Kunene told eNCA on Tuesday that he was at Molefe's house to facilitate an interview with a young journalist. McKenzie said Kunene's presence at the time of the raid was an unfortunate incident which led to him making the 'difficult decision' to suspend the 'sushi king'. Taking to social media platform Facebook on Tuesday, McKenzie announced in a video that an internal investigation would be launched and Kunene would be required to step down temporarily from his position as deputy president of the PA, to allow for the investigation to proceed without interference. 'Kenny Kunene will be investigated and I'm going to tell you who will investigate him – lawyers of good character,' he said. While he is being investigated, I will remove him as an MMC [in the Johannesburg metro]. I'm also going to tell him to stay away from politics for a month until the investigation is completed. That is the most difficult thing I have ever had to do in my life. Gayton McKenzie Kunene denied any wrongdoing, insisting that he had no relationship with Molefe and that he was only at Molefe's house accompanying a journalist who was going to interview him. I was there to take the journalist to interview him. Since I took office, I have not been able to focus on my Africa News Global [website], which has not been active as I have not been able to focus on it since I took office. Kenny Kunene 'There was an opportunity to interview Mr Molefe, he is interesting because he has been accused of having masterminded a murder. There are interesting things surrounding him and it would have been a great exclusive for the young journalist to interview him. I've never been to his house before and I don't even have his contact details. Kenny Kunene Meanwhile, the DA in Johannesburg has called on Johannesburg executive mayor Dada Morero to take urgent action against Kunene and remove him permanently from his position as transport MMC. 'A political party has no power to suspend an MMC in government. The mayor appoints or removes MMCs. The PA must not play with the intelligence of the residents. Is Kenny removed as a councillor or not? The Speaker hasn't indicated any letter from his party to remove him,' DA Johannesburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku posted on X. She told Newzroom Afrika: What is concerning to me is that during the day, the MMC of transport has the time to visit a murder suspect, to take a journalist to a murder suspect's house. It is very concerning that one of the members of the executive, who has no time to explain to residents why potholes are not fixed, has the time to visit a murder suspect. That is why we are concerned. Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku Despite Kunene's explanation, McKenzie stressed the importance of transparency and accountability, especially given the seriousness of Sefako's murder case. McKenzie said he would be writing to the Johannesburg council to formally inform the metro of his decision to remove Kunene from the transport portfolio. He also reiterated that the suspension did not imply guilt but was a necessary step to protect the PA's integrity and ensure that the investigation proceeded without any perceived bias or interference. The popular DJ was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in November 2022. The case had remained a high-profile investigation with few public developments, until Molefe's recent arrest.
News24
5 hours ago
- News24
Kunene set to step down amid probe; US Bill targets SA: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. Graphic: Sharlene Rood/News24 News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. Papi Morake/Gallo Images 'My life's been turned upside down': Claims of unpaid salaries, student neglect at Educor - INTEC College and Damelin, both owned by Educor, face accusations of poor service, inaccessible portals, delayed feedback, unpaid salaries, and systemic mismanagement, leaving students and staff in limbo. - The Council on Higher Education (CHE) is investigating Damelin's accredited programmes due to ongoing complaints, while INTEC College students report issues like missing assignment marks and lack of communication. - Staff members allege unpaid salaries, with one INTEC College employee of 26 years struggling to make ends meet, while Educor has not responded to media queries regarding the allegations. Two Oceans Marathon drama: Chair steps down as new board looks to steady the ship - Leadership changes, including the resignation of the chairperson, have created uncertainty for the Two Oceans Marathon. - The City of Cape Town severed ties with the event due to permit breaches regarding the number of participants in the last race. - The new board is focused on rebuilding trust with the City and the running community, and will appoint an event management company to help organise future races. Jaco Marais/Gallo Images/Die Burger Kunene will be asked to step down as MMC amid probe - PA president Gayton McKenzie - The Patriotic Alliance (PA) will investigate Kenny Kunene's presence at the home of Katiso "KT" Molefe, who is accused of orchestrating a murder. - PA president Gayton McKenzie will ask Kunene to step down as Johannesburg Transport MMC and take a one-month break from politics during the investigation. - Kunene claims he was at Molefe's home accompanying a journalist for an interview and denies any relationship with Molefe. SA 'sided with communists and terrorists', says US congressman pushing sanctions bill - US Congressman Ronny Jackson is pushing a bill to review US-South Africa ties and potentially sanction SA officials aligned with US adversaries. - The bill is motivated by South Africa's relationships with countries like China, Russia, and Iran, as well as its stance on issues like the Israel-ICJ case. - The legislation's progress is uncertain, with lawmakers currently in recess until September, and tensions between the US and South Africa remain escalated. Getty Images/Zolnierek New labour proposals: Double retrenchment pay, relaxed rules for firing - The Department of Employment and Labour has proposed over 60 amendments to labour laws, including enhanced protection for gig workers and increased retrenchment payments. - Unions have expressed concerns about some of the proposals, such as the non-recognition of bargaining agreements for new businesses and the narrow definition of unfair labour practices. - The proposed amendments are in the final drafting stage for Cabinet approval and will be subject to public comment and parliamentary approval before becoming law, with some expecting passage no earlier than 2029. Anton Geyser/Gallo Images Rassie trims Boks for Rugby Championship: No Faf, newbies make their mark - The Springboks have announced a 37-man squad for their initial 2025 Rugby Championship matches against Australia, with notable omissions like Faf de Klerk and Lukhanyo Am. - Coach Rassie Erasmus has invited three Junior Boks (Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead) to a two-week training camp ahead of the tournament. - The squad includes a mix of experienced players and newer faces, with Erasmus emphasising the importance of squad depth and versatility for the competition. Test track — the new 4WD Renault Duster handled this Grade 1 4x4 jeep track pretty well. Just how far off-road will the new Renault Duster 4WD take you? Far… but not all the way - The new Renault Duster 1.2T 6MT 4WD MHEV boasts a muscular design and stylish interior, offering a comfortable ride on various terrains. - The reviewer noted some drawbacks, including a notchy gearbox, jerky power delivery, and road-biased tyres, limiting its capabilities on challenging 4x4 tracks. - Despite its limitations, the Duster is considered a well-priced and fuel-efficient option in the medium-sized SUV segment, suitable for most adventures.
CBS News
6 hours ago
- CBS News
Chicago police searching for 2-year-old girl kidnapped by armed group from Bronzeville home
Chicago police are searching for a 2-year-old girl kidnapped from an apartment in the city's Bronzeville neighborhood by an armed group early Wednesday morning. Police said three people armed with guns forced their way into the building and then an apartment unit in the 4800 block of South Michigan Avenue just before 5 a.m. The group included a woman known to the child and two men, police said. They took the child before stealing a gray Nissan hatchback and other items from the home, and fled with the child in the stolen car. No Amber Alert has been issued at this time and CPD said the incident appears to be domestic. It is unclear if that determination is why an Ambert Alert has not been issued. An investigation by Area One detectives is ongoing.
