Former SABC Sports Presenter Owen Ndlovu Dies: Resurfaced SAMRO Fight Video Sparks Reactions
- Owen Ndlovu, 54, was found dead in Thokoza on 16 September 2026, a day after he was allegedly hijacked in Katlehong while collecting his wife from church
- Ndlovu had been locked in a long-running legal dispute with SAMRO over royalties and governance, with a court date scheduled for the day after his body was discovered
- A resurfaced video of Ndlovu discussing his campaign against SAMRO leadership has fuelled speculation on social media, though police have not established any connection
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Former SABC sports presenter Owen Ndlovu, 54, was found dead in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni, on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, a day after he was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint in Katlehong while collecting his wife, Portia Ndlovu, from a church service.
Source: Twitter
Gauteng police confirmed that three men accosted the couple, with at least one suspect armed with a firearm, before forcing Ndlovu into his Ford Raptor and driving off.
The vehicle was later found abandoned in Walkerville. Residents in Thokoza subsequently discovered his body. His family confirmed he had sustained gunshot wounds, and Portia Ndlovu later identified him at a mortuary. Authorities have launched a manhunt for three suspects, and a postmortem is underway to establish the full circumstances of his death.
Owen Ndlovu's career and legal battle
Beyond his television career, Ndlovu had grown increasingly active in music industry advocacy through his work with Artists United, placing him at the centre of a protracted legal dispute with the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) and its CEO, Annabell Lebethe.
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The dispute centred on allegations about royalty management and SAMRO's governance. Court papers filed in a separate matter in 2025 alleged that more than R60 million intended for artists had been improperly handled. Those allegations were contested and formed part of the broader legal proceedings. An interim protection order involving Lebethe and Ndlovu was dismissed in July, while a further court appearance had been scheduled for Thursday, 17 September, one day after Ndlovu's body was recovered.
Speculation surfaces on social Media
Following news of his death, a video of Ndlovu discussing his efforts to have Lebethe removed from her position began circulating widely on social media, prompting some users to question whether the SAMRO dispute and his killing could be linked.
Watch the video below on X.
Other users made more direct allegations online, with some claiming Ndlovu had previously expressed concerns about his personal safety. Those claims remain unverified. Police have not produced any evidence linking Lebethe, SAMRO, or anyone connected to the organisation to Ndlovu's death. The motive for his killing has not been publicly established, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Ndlovu's family has appealed to the public and media to respect their privacy as authorities continue their work. Briefly News contacted SAMRO and Annabell Lebethe for comment on the allegations circulating following Ndlovu's death. No response had been received at the time of publication.
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Source: Briefly News
