Human remains believed to be those of missing South African journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Precious Mdhluli have been discovered in Limpopo province, more than two months after they were last seen.

The bodies were found in a remote bush area and were in an advanced state of decomposition.

While DNA confirmation is still pending, media organisations say forensic teams have already identified the remains. Police have arrested five suspects in connection with the case. Authorities reportedly recovered stolen items, including furniture, appliances, and parts of a vehicle linked to the couple.

Ndlovu, founder of the Pretoria-based Capital Live radio station, had been missing with Mdhluli since 18 February. Their deaths have left the media community reeling.

“I am terribly sad. We held out hope… Our deepest condolences go out to the families,” said Elijah Mhlanga, chairperson of the African Media and Communicators Forum.

The case highlights South Africa’s persistent struggle with violent crime. The country recorded over 26,000 murders in 2024—an average of 72 killings per day.

Catholics in Ivory Coast say they are happy with new Pope Leo XIV despite hopes of an African pope being elected.

At St John’s Catholic Church in Abidjan, the faithful gathered on Thursday evening to pray for the ongoing conclave.

During the service, American Robert Prevost was named Pope Leo XIV, making him the first pope from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the church.

“We are very happy here in Ivory Coast, and we pray for the new pope, Pope Leo XIV,” said Hervé Djezou Konan, a priest who serves as head of communications for the Catholic Church in Ivory Coast.

Catholic faithful, Clementin Zongo, who attended the service, said she was grateful that the conclave had concluded.

“All I hope is that this new pope we’ve been given will be a model pastor, and that the Holy Spirit will always be with him in his discernment and decision-making,” she said.

As Catholicism declines in Europe, it is expanding in the developing world, with the number of faithful growing faster in Africa than anywhere else.

There were a few African cardinals considered to be in the running to become pope. At least 20% of the global Catholic community lives in Africa.

The United States said on Thursday that it will cut $50 million in annual aid to Zambia because of what it described as the “systemic theft” of donated drugs and medical supplies.

Washington’s ambassador to the country, Michael Gonzales, said the “difficult” decision comes after repeated warnings to the government to safeguard the vital medicines.

These included life-saving drugs to treat malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis.

He said the US discovered in 2021 that medicine and medical supplies that were meant to be provided free to Zambians were being taken and sold by pharmacies across country.

An investigation of around 2,000 pharmacies in Zambia between 2021 and 2023 found that nearly half of them were selling medicines and products paid for by US aid funds.

Gonzales said the Zambian government failed to do enough to address the corruption after being informed of the theft scandal last year.

He said the US was no longer willing to “underwrite the personal enrichment of fraudsters” with American taxpayers money.

The embassy in Zambia said it accounts for about a third of public health spending in the country.

There was no immediate comment on Thursday from the Zambian government.

The cuts are separate from a broader review of foreign aid spend by President Donald Trump’s administration.

Gonzales said he had recommended that the US start cutting the aid from January next year to give Zambia time to plan new procurements of the life-saving drugs.