The trial of the seven men accused of murdering rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes and his friend Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane has been adjourned to Monday. The adjournment was made after some witnesses scheduled to testify later this week became uncomfortable about giving evidence in open court. Senior State Advocate Elvis Gcweka told the Durban High Court on Thursday afternoon that two of the remaining witnesses for the day were uncomfortable testifying in an open courtroom.
The seven men, Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyabonga Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Mkhwanazi, and brothers Malusi Dave and Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande, face 11 charges, including the murders of Forbes and Motsoane. The court heard that arrangements were being made for the witnesses to testify from intermediary rooms, and that the court would accommodate these arrangements in the coming weeks.
The adjournment came after the State, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Lawrence Gcaba, had called three witnesses relating to firearms allegedly linked to the murders. Much of Thursday's evidence centred on Siyabonga Eddie Myeza, who is alleged to have supplied the firearms used in the killings. Myeza has disputed police evidence that one of the firearms was found at his waist when he was arrested in Umlazi on April 21, 2023.
Through his advocate, Simphiwe Mlotshwa, Myeza claimed he was limping, using crutches and wearing a cast that extended up to his groin when he was arrested. Mlotshwa put it to a Tactical Response Team officer that it would therefore have been impossible for Myeza to have had a firearm positioned at the front of his waist, as the officer testified. The TRT officer, however, maintained that the firearm was found at the front of Myeza's waist.
Another police officer involved in the investigation into the murders of Forbes and Motsoane told the court that, after the TRT seized the firearm from Myeza, he was instructed to collect it from Bhekithemba police station. "Crime intelligence information revealed that the gun was linked to the AKA matter," the officer testified. This evidence was part of the State's case against the accused.
During cross-examination, Advocate Musa Mzelemu, representing Mhlaliseni Mkhwanazi, questioned the officer about a statement in which he had recorded that he collected only one firearm from the police station. The officer explained that each firearm had its own docket and the statement before court was in relation to this matter only. The court heard that a second firearm had been seized from another man who was with Myeza when the TRT arrested him.
Proceedings are expected to resume on Monday morning. The trial will continue with the hearing of further evidence and testimony from witnesses. The families of the victims, including Sylvester Motsoane, father of Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane, and Lynn Forbes, mother of rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes, were present in court.
Key points
- The trial of the seven men accused of murdering AKA and Tibz has been adjourned to Monday due to witness concerns about open-court testimony.
- The accused face 11 charges, including the murders of Forbes and Motsoane.
- The trial will continue with the hearing of further evidence and testimony from witnesses on Monday.
