Long-awaited AKA and Tibz murder trial starts

Long-awaited AKA and Tibz murder trial starts at the Durban High Court on Monday, marking a monumental moment in South Africa’s pursuit of justice for one of the nation’s most devastating and high-profile assassinations. Award-winning hip-hop artist Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his close friend, renowned chef and entrepreneur Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, were gunned down outside the Wish restaurant on Durban’s bustling Florida Road on the evening of 10 February 2023. Over three years after the fatal shooting sent shockwaves across the country, seven men now sit in the dock to face an extensive indictment that covers two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

The commencement of court proceedings brings immense public attention to KwaZulu-Natal’s judicial system. As legal teams prepare to present arguments, the State is set to outline what it describes as a meticulously coordinated, paid assassination scheme involving spotters, shooters, getaway drivers, and financial handlers.

The Fatal Shooting on Florida Road and the Murder Trial Overview

The tragedy unfolded on a Friday night in early February 2023 when Kiernan Forbes was celebrating his birthday weekend with close associates in Durban. After dining at the popular Wish restaurant on Florida Road, AKA and Tibz stepped onto the pavement outside to embrace and bid farewell to friends. Seconds later, armed men approached on foot, fired close-range shots at Forbes’ head and neck, and fatally wounded Motsoane in the crossfire before fleeing into a waiting getaway vehicle.

The double murder was captured on private security camera footage, which subsequently went viral across social media platforms, sparking national outrage and widespread demands for police action. The cold-blooded nature of the hit triggered a complex multi-agency police investigation that spanned several provinces and extended across international borders.

The murder trial is expected to run for several weeks as prosecutors roll out a comprehensive case comprising ballistics evidence, cell phone tower data, banking records, and state witness testimonies.

Seven Accused Face Grave Charges at the Durban High Court

The judicial proceedings taking place at the Durban High Court represent one of the most critical trials handled by the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court in recent history. The seven accused standing trial are alleged to have operated as an organized criminal cell specifically assembled to carry out the hit on Forbes.

The State’s indictment outlines how individual roles were assigned prior to the execution of the crime:

• Spotters: Stationed inside and outside the restaurant to monitor AKA’s movements and report back via encrypted messaging applications.

• Shooters: Tasked with executing the fatal close-range gunfire.

• Logistical Support & Drivers: Responsible for providing stolen vehicles, altered license plates, and escape routes.

• Financial Handlers: Alleged to have facilitated large monetary payouts transferred to the hitmen following the successful execution of the contract.

In addition to the primary murder counts, the co-accused face charges related to the attempted murder of AKA’s bodyguard, who sustained injuries during the shooting, as well as statutory violations under the Firearms Control Act for possessing prohibited weapons and ammunition.

Extradition of Siyabonga Ndimande and Malusi Ndimande from Eswatini

A pivotal chapter in the law enforcement investigation involved tracking down suspects who fled South African jurisdiction in the aftermath of the shooting. Among the core figures in the dock are brothers Siyabonga Ndimande and Malusi Ndimande, who were apprehended by law enforcement authorities in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Siyabonga Ndimande and his brother were discovered hiding in an apartment complex in Manzini, Eswatini, following an international red notice issued through Interpol. South African prosecutors worked alongside Eswatini judicial authorities to finalize extradition proceedings, culminating in their successful surrender to South African police in late 2025.

Alleged Roles of Siyabonga Ndimande and His Co-Accused

According to court filings, Siyabonga Ndimande and his brother are alleged to have played central operational roles in executing the hit and coordinating the immediate getaway:

1. Cross-Border Evasion: Fleeing across the Oshoek border post shortly after learning that investigators had identified the getaway vehicle.

2. Tactical Coordination: Allegedly communicating directly with financial facilitators who disbursed funding to the group.

3. Weapon Disposal: Assisting in hiding or transferring the firearms used in the Florida Road attack.

The return of the Ndimande brothers to face trial in South Africa removed the final procedural hurdle preventing the High Court from setting a firm trial date for all seven accused jointly.

Financial Links, Masterminds, and the State’s Evidence

Beyond the physical execution of the crime, public interest remains focused on identifying the entity or individuals who funded the assassination. State prosecutors have hinted in pre-trial hearings that evidence will demonstrate a paper trail linking multi-hundred-thousand-rand payments to accounts controlled by certain accused shortly after the murders took place.

The prosecution’s evidentiary package presented to the Durban High Court relies heavily on digital forensics and scientific analysis:

• Ballistic Fingerprinting: Matching bullet casings recovered from Florida Road to a specific firearm retrieved during police raids in KZN.

• CCTV & Facial Recognition Analysis: Reconstructing the movement of spotters inside Wish restaurant prior to the shooting.

• Telecommunication Mapping: Cell phone tower pings placing key accused in the immediate vicinity of Florida Road throughout the afternoon and evening of 10 February 2023.

Legal experts anticipate that defense counsel will challenge the admissibility of electronic evidence, phone extractions, and the circumstances surrounding initial police confessions.

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Public Interest, Family Statements, and Justice for AKA and Tibz

The double murder of AKA and Tibz devastated their respective families, friends, and millions of fans across Africa and the global diaspora. Kiernan Forbes was one of the continent’s most acclaimed musical artists, known for defining South African hip-hop over more than a decade. Tebello Motsoane was a respected figure in branding, music management, and culinary arts, whose presence alongside Forbes on that fateful night was purely tragic coincidence.

Representatives from both the Forbes and Motsoane families are attending the court proceedings in Durban. Family spokespersons have expressed relief that the trial is finally commencing, emphasizing that while court proceedings cannot bring back their loved ones, formal legal accountability is vital for healing and closure.

As the long-awaited AKA and Tibz murder trial starts, South Africans across the nation will be watching closely. The outcome of this trial carries profound implications not only for the grieving families but also for restoring public confidence in South Africa’s capacity to investigate, prosecute, and dismantle hitman networks and violent crime syndicates.

References from mainstream media

1. eNCA — Long-awaited AKA and Tibz murder trial starts

2. SABC News — AKA and Tibz murder trial begins in the Durban High Court

3. IOL News — AKA-Tibz murder trial rocked by defence shake-up as accused seeks separate trial

4. East Coast Radio — AKA murder trial: Seven accused plead not guilty

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