A former police officer who was part of the investigating team into the murder of Durban taxi boss Gift Khanyile testified in the Durban high court on Wednesday. The officer, who cannot be named due to a court directive, provided evidence about a gun allegedly used in the murder of Khanyile in May 2022 and later in the murder of rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes and businessman Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane in February 2023. The evidence is part of the state's case against seven men facing 11 charges in connection with the deaths of AKA and Tibz.
The seven men, including Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, and Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 23, pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of a firearm. Myeza faces six additional counts relating to the May 2022 murder of Khanyile, the attempted murder of two others, and the theft of a car registered at the Mayville police station. The trial has been delayed several times, and senior state prosecutor Lawrence Gcaba said the witness would testify about 10 charges related to the unlawful possession of a firearm.
The former cop's testimony provided an important ballistic link between the two crimes. Khanyile was killed on May 6, 2022, during a shootout at a BP filling station on Jan Smuts Highway in Mayville, Durban. The gun allegedly used in the murder is believed to have been used again in the murder of AKA and Tibz outside a former Florida Road restaurant in February 2023. The court heard that the ballistic evidence will be presented later in the trial.
The trial is being held in the Durban high court, and Judge Nomfundo Sipunzi earlier ruled that the media could not reveal the identities or personal details of witnesses called by the state or the defense. However, on Wednesday, Sipunzi amended the ruling, allowing the media to report on witness testimony but prohibiting the revelation of witness identities or information that could identify them.
The former cop's testimony is seen as a crucial part of the state's case, and Gcaba said it was one piece of a few other pieces of evidence that would be presented in relation to count number 10, which relates to the unlawful possession of a firearm. The trial was adjourned until Thursday, and it is expected that more witnesses will be called to testify.
The murder of AKA and Tibz shocked the country, and the case has been widely followed. AKA, whose real name was Kiernan Forbes, was a well-known rapper and musician, and Tibz was a businessman and friend of the rapper. The police have been investigating the murder for several months, and several suspects have been arrested and charged.
The case will continue on Thursday, with the prosecution expected to present more evidence and call additional witnesses. The seven accused men are expected to present their defense, and the court will hear their responses to the charges against them. The trial is expected to be a lengthy one, and the outcome will be closely watched by the public and the families of the victims.
Key points
- The former police officer's testimony provided a crucial link between the murder of a Durban taxi boss and the murder of rapper AKA and businessman Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane.
- The trial is ongoing, with seven men facing 11 charges in connection with the deaths of AKA and Tibz.
- The court has amended its ruling on media coverage, allowing the media to report on witness testimony but prohibiting the revelation of witness identities.
