He went to fetch his wife from church in Katlehong. Hours later veteran broadcaster Owen Ndlovu was found dead beside a road.

Tributes are pouring in for Owen Ndlovu, the former SABC sports presenter many fans grew up with, after he was abducted during a hijacking on Tuesday.

Police say the 54 year old had gone to collect his wife from a service when three men approached, pushed her aside and forced him into the back seat of his Ford Raptor bakkie.

The bakkie was later found abandoned in Walkerville. On Wednesday morning residents found Ndlovu beside a road in Thokoza with gunshot wounds. His bag was nearby. Police have opened a murder case and a post mortem will confirm cause of death. A manhunt for the suspects is underway.

Owen was more than a voice on Premier Soccer League radio. In later years he became a champion for musicians’ rights through Artists United and the SABC Summer Song campaign. Colleague Lelo Mzaca remembered him as colourful and energetic, a spirited talent whose light shone bright.

Why it matters: this was an ordinary act, a church pickup, turned fatal. That familiarity is why the story has spread so fast and why it has again raised alarm about safety in Gauteng.

South Africa continues to face high levels of violent crime. Police figures for April to June 2026 recorded over 5000 murders and close to 4000 carjackings.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said serious crimes keep communities in fear, often carried out by organised armed groups.

Police will rely on church CCTV, tracking data from the bakkie and forensics from Thokoza. Family spokesperson Eugene Mthethwa says the family awaits formal updates.

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