Music Rights Activist Owen Ndlovu Abducted on Eve of Major SAMRO Court Case
Former SABC Sport presenter and prominent music rights activist Owen Ndlovu was hijacked and kidnapped at gunpoint on Tuesday evening, just hours before he was due to face the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) in a major financial court battle.
The incident occurred at approximately 20:30 in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, while Ndlovu was waiting to pick up his wife from a local church service.
According to preliminary police reports, a group of armed men ambushed Ndlovu in front of his wife, forced him into the back seat of his Ford Raptor, and sped away from the scene.
While the vehicle was later discovered abandoned in Walkerville, Ndlovu remains missing.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) have registered a case at the Katlehong Police Station and specialized crime units have launched a massive manhunt for the three armed suspects.
The timing of the kidnapping has sent shockwaves through the local music industry, coming exactly on the day Ndlovu was scheduled to appear in court regarding his ongoing legal war against SAMRO.
Ndlovu, who acts as a whistleblower and convener for the advocacy group Artists United, recently opened a criminal case exposing deep-seated corruption within the royalty-collecting society.
The legal dispute stems from a multi-million-rand “heist” first brought to light by Ndlovu.
Just last month, the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan / Legal Advisory and Compliance Organisation (LACO) staged an in-person raid on SAMRO’s headquarters after the organisation repeatedly ignored formal inquiries.
LACO demanded that SAMRO’s CEO Annabelle Lebethe account for R60 million in artists’ royalties allegedly plundered or mismanaged in 2023, alongside an outstanding debt of R900,000 directly owed to Ndlovu’s company.
SAMRO has previously denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations baseless and pointing to parallel legal battles concerning terminated service contracts with Ndlovu’s firm, One Rights Management (ORM).
With Ndlovu still missing, concerns are mounting that the abduction may be directly tied to his anti-corruption crusade and the highly sensitive data his company uses to track airplay royalties for marginalised artists.
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that law enforcement is investigating all possible angles.
Authorities are urgently appealing to any members of the public who may have witnessed suspicious activity in Katlehong or Walkerville on Tuesday night to immediately contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
