The South African music fraternity is in shock following the violent killing of broadcaster and music-rights activist Owen Ndlovu. Colleagues and friends have expressed their disbelief and sadness over the death of a man known for his dedication to the arts. Ndlovu was abducted on Tuesday evening outside a church in Katlehong while waiting to pick up his wife. His body was later found next to a road, with a postmortem examination being conducted to establish the cause of death.
According to police, Ndlovu was forced into a vehicle by three unknown men, one of whom was reportedly armed. The car was later found abandoned in Walkerville. A family statement confirmed that Ndlovu had been shot, and his bag was found a few meters away from where his body was discovered. Eugene Mthethwa, chair of the advocacy group Artists United, was a close friend of Ndlovu and has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mthethwa claims that residents who discovered Ndlovu's body found a sealed bag behind an electricity box a few meters from where he lay. He expressed concerns about the events leading up to Ndlovu's death, particularly the fact that the abductors allegedly allowed Ndlovu to get out of the car with a bag containing documents about Samro, the South African Music Rights Organisation. This has sparked speculation about possible motives behind the murder.
Ndlovu's company, ORM, was a service provider to Samro until the organisation terminated its contract in March last year. This was followed by legal proceedings, with Samro's CEO Annabell Lebethe obtaining an interim protection order against Ndlovu, alleging harassment and other incidents. However, the Johannesburg magistrate's court dismissed the protection order on July 17 this year. Recently, Ndlovu had launched harassment charges against Lebethe.
The music industry has been reacting to Ndlovu's death, with many expressing their shock and sadness. Musician Nomsa Mazwai called for an urgent Samro special general meeting, citing fear gripping members. She noted that Ndlovu had been working to ensure that undocumented works get matched with their creators. Vusi Leeuw, a music and talent consultant, urged caution and called for the police to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Samro has released a statement condemning violence and criminality, and has expressed its trust in the South African Police Service to investigate Ndlovu's death. The organisation acknowledged its disputes with Ndlovu but declined to comment further out of respect for his family. Lebethe did not respond to emails seeking comment.
The police are continuing their investigation into Ndlovu's death, with the Germiston Trio unit handling the case. Friends and colleagues of Ndlovu have been paying tribute to his work and legacy, with actress and arts activist Joy Mbewana saying that Ndlovu would have wanted them to trust the justice system.
Key points
- The motive behind Ndlovu's murder is unclear, but it is believed to be linked to his work with Samro and his advocacy for artists' rights.
- Ndlovu had been involved in disputes with Samro and its CEO Annabell Lebethe, including a terminated contract and allegations of harassment.
- The police investigation into Ndlovu's death is ongoing, with the music industry calling for justice and an end to violence and criminality.
