One year after the brutal murders of Pretoria based journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli, the Africa Media and Communications Forum has criticised ongoing court delays and called for swift action to prevent further setbacks in the pursuit of justice.
In a statement marking the first anniversary of their deaths, Africa Media and Communications Forum chairperson Elijah Mhlanga said the case has now been postponed 14 times in the KwaMhlanga Magistrate’s Court, where 5 men are accused of the double murder.
Mhlanga said the killings of Ndlovu and Mdhluli shocked the nation and left their families, colleagues and communities devastated. He added that the repeated postponements have intensified the families’ pain and raised concerns about the efficiency and urgency of the criminal justice system.
Ndlovu and Mdhluli were reported missing on 18 February 2025 after leaving their home in Mpumalanga in a white Volkswagen Citi Golf. Their remains were discovered on 8 May 2025 in a remote area near Rust de Winter, almost 3 months later. DNA tests confirmed their identities on 4 June 2025.
Police arrested 4 suspects on 5 May 2025, followed by a 5th arrest on 7 May 2025. The accused face charges including kidnapping, carjacking, house robbery, possession of suspected stolen property and vehicles, and drug related offences. Authorities recovered 2 Volkswagen Citi Golfs allegedly linked to the crime, along with household items believed to have been stolen from the couple’s home.
Mhlanga emphasised that each court postponement is more than a procedural delay. He said every new date prolongs the suffering of the families who are still waiting for accountability. According to him, 1 year later there is still no closure, and there is concern that the victims’ memory could be overshadowed by what he described as systemic inaction.
The Africa Media and Communications Forum has called on the prosecution and the courts to ensure there are no further unnecessary delays, stressing that justice delayed is justice denied.
To honour Ndlovu’s legacy, the forum announced plans to launch the Aserie Ndlovu Bursary Fund. The initiative aims to support young people who want to pursue careers in communication and media. Further details about the bursary and its partnership with a journalism training institution will be announced in due course.
A tribute ceremony was held in Pretoria on 18 June 2025, and Ndlovu was laid to rest in KwaMhlanga on 21 June 2025, which would have been his 39th birthday.
The case is expected to return to the KwaMhlanga Magistrate’s Court on a date still to be confirmed, as the families of Ndlovu and Mdhluli continue to wait for the trial to move forward.
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