MK Party mourns former SABC sports presenter Owen Ndlovu
· The South African
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has described the death of former South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) sports broadcaster and music rights activist Owen Ndlovu as a devastating loss to South Africa’s broadcasting, sports and cultural sectors.
Ndlovu was allegedly hijacked and kidnapped in Katlehong, east of Johannesburg. His body was later discovered by residents in Thokoza, near Johannesburg on Wednesday.
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Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and a manhunt for the suspects.
MK PARTY MOURNS OWEN NDLOVU
Ndlovu was a familiar figure in South Africa’s sports broadcasting and entertainment industries. He worked for the SABC and was involved in sports broadcasting, while also pursuing a career in the music industry.
He was a music promoter and founded Artists United, an organisation focused on issues affecting artists and the music industry.
Ndlovu was also involved in a long-running dispute with the SABC over its Summer Song of the Year campaign. In late 2019, he approached the courts seeking to stop the broadcaster from announcing the Song of the Year, arguing that the concept and voting system were his intellectual property. He later withdrew the application.
Ndlovu continued to raise concerns about the campaign in subsequent years, including in 2022, while the SABC disputed his claims.
At the time of his death, Ndlovu was also involved in a legal dispute with the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), of which he was a long-standing member.
In July 2026, the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court dismissed a harassment application brought against Ndlovu by SAMRO chief executive Annabelle Lebethe.
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Owen Ndlovu Speaks On SAMRO Legal Dispute Before His Death
Owen Ndlovu, founder of Artists United, spoke about his ongoing legal dispute involving SAMRO and his efforts to have its CEO, Annabel Lebethe, removed from office.
Ndlovu has since been found dead with gunshot… pic.twitter.com/JwL5kuBN2W
PARTY CALLS FOR A PROBE
The MK Party said the circumstances surrounding Ndlovu’s death were deeply disturbing and called for a full investigation.
“The MK Party is particularly concerned by the continued vulnerability of ordinary South Africans to violent crime, kidnapping and hijacking. No family should have to ensure the trauma of seeing a loved one taken away from them in such circumstances,” MK Party spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu said.
Mahlangu called on law enforcement authorities to prioritise the investigation, support Ndlovu’s family and ensure those responsible face justice.
The party also called on the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, as well as the broadcasting, sports and entertainment fraternity, to acknowledge and honour Ndlovu’s contribution to South African sports and cultural life.