The missing journalists and his partner
The disappearance of Capital Live SA FM radio boss Aserie Sibusiso Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli is still shrouded in mystery.
This after the National Press Club and the African Media and Communicators Forum held a joint media briefing in Tshwane on Sunday to announce that there is still no clue regarding the whereabouts of the pair.
It is now more or less 28 days since Ndlovu and Mdluli went missing on or around 18 February 2025.
The two media organisations have put together an amount of R50 000 as a reward to anyone who may come up with information that may lead to the tracing of the missing couple.
A media statement issued by the two aforesaid media organisations reads as follows:
“With each passing day the families grow even more anxious and all of us become worried about their well-being.”
It is elaborated in the statement that it is troubling that for almost a month there isn’t a shred of evidence or lead as to where the partners may be or what has happened to them.
The son of missing couple Treasure Mdluli and the sister of Zodwa Mdluli, Lillian Mokgala photo by Dimakatso Modipa
“The family has also enlisted the assistance of private investigator Calvin Rafadi who has since done some work which includes searching hospitals, mortuaries, hotels and other places of interest, but up to now there are no leads,” reads the statement further.
Addressing the media in Tshwane at the aforesaid briefing, acting Chairperson of the National Press Club Antoinette Slabbert said the two media organisations were flabbergasted that one of their own can just vanish and therefore cannot let this matter die down and never be heard of again.
“We have joined forces and put together a R50 000 reward for anyone with information that would help solve this mystery and I appeal to anyone with information to come forward, tell the police what you know and help us to find Aserie Ndlovu and Zodwa Mdhluli,” said Slabbert.
National Education Spokesperson and also Chairperson of African Media and Communicators Forum Elijah Mhlanga told the media briefing that it has been a month of stress, anxiety and great worry to the families of the missing couple as well as their colleagues in the media fraternity and the community at large.
“When you have people just vanishing off the surface of the earth without any leads it causes great concern,” said Mhlanga.
“We have communicated with the police via the family and the family has enlisted the services of a private investigator Calvin Rafadi and as people who are concerned about the safety of the missing couple, we have raised some money which we offer as a reward for information leading to the resolution of this mystery,” he said.
“We are doing this out of frustration because it is extraordinary that we wake up and then go to sleep without hearing anything about Ndlovu and Mdluli’s whereabouts and our thoughts go out to their families every day and ask ourselves what goes on in their minds when they have breakfast, supper and go to sleep; what goes on in their minds when they hear a call coming in with hopes that it will finally bring the lead to help the police solve the matter yet nothing like that comes through,” he said.
Mhlanga said the two media organisations have mobilised pastors who will be conducting prayer sessions throughout the week so as to intercede for the safe return of the couple and we are also raising awareness about the plight of the missing couple’s families and at the greatest concern is that with the passing of every day without any positive developments in this matter we get more worried,” explained Mhlanga.
National Press club together with African Media and Communication Forum offering R50 000 reward for the missing journalists and partner photo by Dimakatso Modipa
“We are of the opinion that if we work together with the authorities and members of the public, we should be able to see some progress which would lead us to their whereabouts,” he said.
Crime expert Calvin Rafadi told the briefing that he has searched every nook-and-cranny to no avail.
“I am a forensic practitioner by profession, and I am investigating the case of the missing couple on a pro bono basis and am working closely with the violent and serious crimes unit of the Gauteng police to resolve this matter,” said Rafadi.
He said all that he has uncovered at the moment are the following facts:
1.There was a break-in at the couple’s home in Kwa-Mhlanga after they were reported as missing, and the police have taken fingerprints in this regard.
2. There is a grey VW minibus vehicle which has now gone missing from the yard of the couple.
3. The vehicle has now been found.
4.The white Citi Golf vehicle which Ndlovu was driving has gone missing and was last seen in the Bronkhorstspruit area.
5.Ndlovu is originally from Nelspruit but at the time of his disappearance he was living at Lotus Gardens in Pretoria and after contacting his friends here in Pretoria nothing positive was found.
6. No ransom has been demanded by anyone so far.
7.His phone is now off. 8. His bank account has not been tampered with as nothing has been withdrawn from it and his recent monthly salary is still intact.
Rafadi appealed to members of the public not to make hoax calls to the police as this is a serious matter.
A lady who identified herself only as Zodwa Mdhluli’s sister Lillian Mokgala told Tshwane Talks that she hasn’t noticed any quarrel or disagreement between the couple and that as far as she was concerned, they were living happily together.
She said the disappearance of the couple has drained the family emotionally because when they themselves go to sleep using blankets, they ask themselves whether the missing couple have such items wherever they are and also whether they have shelter, water and anything to eat.
She expressed appreciation about the R50 000 reward that was issued by the two media organisations and opined that it will help members of the public to come forward with information that would lead to the couple being found.
The missing couple’s son Treasure Mdluli told Tshwane Talks that he and his siblings are very worried, but they hope and pray every day that their parents would eventually come back.
“We really appreciate the reward issued by the National Press Club as it makes us feel we are not alone in this situation and we would like to encourage more people to keep us in their prayers and hopefully our parents will be back in good shape,” he said.
Aserie Ndlovu is founder and owner of Capital Live SA FM 99.0 radio which broadcasts from Denlyn Mall in Mamelodi West.
Those with information regarding the whereabouts of the missing couple may phone Brigadier Mxolisi Edwin Nana on the following numbers: 082 778 9035.