AKA, Tibz murder accused to remain behind bars
The State on Thursday asked for a postponement in the case against five men linked to the murder of rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane.
The postponement is to allow for further investigations.
The five suspects made their first appearance in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning.
Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Eddie Myeza, Lindani Ndimande, Lindokuhle Ndimande and Mziwethemba Gwabeni are facing 10 charges including murder, attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms.
Forbes and his friend were shot outside Durban’s Wish Restaurant on Florida Road in February 2023.
“At this stage, this matter is postponed for bail verification until 6 March. Accused numbers 1, 4 and 5 are to be at Chatsworth Police Station. Accused numbers 2 and 3 are to be kept at Westville Prison,” said Magistrate Vincent Hlatshawayo.
Speaking to the media inside court, AKA's father, Tony Forbes, said he wanted to face his son's alleged killers.
“When you’re in court, you are appearing in front of the people, and to be able to hide behind a mask is something that the justice system needs to look at. The family and people of South Africa need to be able to see their faces. I don’t understand how the system works, and I hope that there’s some president that can enable the magistrate to compel them to take off their masks.”
The magistrate did order the accused to show their faces during court proceedings.
Police Minister Bheki Cele told the media that the Department of Justice is in charge of the extradition of two of the seven accused.
The pair is currently in Swaziland under police guard.
“I know that the Minister of Justice already had contact with his counterpart on the other side, but as he says, it is out of the police. Hence, it is on Justice or Immigration as by law you do not hand over to police, you hand over to immigration if that person has crossed the border illegally,” said Cele.
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