By: Zilungile Mkhize
The Ndimande brothers accused of murdering award-winning rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his close friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane have appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.
Malusi and Siyabonga Ndimande were extradited from Eswatini by officials from Interpol and the South African Police Service (SAPS) after abandoning a year-long legal battle to avoid being returned to South Africa.
The brothers have been formally charged in three separate cases linked to the February 2023 double murder on Florida Road in Durban. The case was postponed until the end of November to give the accused time to consult with their legal representatives.
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who attended Wednesday’s court proceedings, said authorities were satisfied with the progress in the investigation.
“We are happy that we were able to collaborate with our colleagues in Eswatini in the extradition process of the two brothers, who are part of the group that conspired to kill the musician and his friend.
“We are also happy, as police, that the mastermind behind this hit has been nabbed. What we don’t know yet is whether there was someone above him who was facilitating the payments, as evidence shows that the payments came through his business bank account,” said Mkhwanazi.
The Ndimande brothers are among seven suspects arrested in connection with the execution-style killings of AKA and ”Tibz” outside a popular restaurant in Durban. The murders, which shocked the country and the local music industry, are believed to have been a planned hit involving several individuals.
