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, whose identity cannot be disclosed 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 accused, Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 23, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 36, Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Ndimande, 29, Malusi Dave, 30, and Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande, 31, pleaded not guilty to the charges, including 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, which started on Monday, has been delayed several times. 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. The court heard that Khanyile was killed on May 6, 2022, during a shootout at a BP filling station on Jan Smuts Highway in Mayville, Durban.
The witness's evidence is one piece of a few other pieces of evidence that the state will lead in relation to count number 10, unlawful possession of a firearm. The court will hear more evidence, including ballistic evidence, to show the origin of the firearm used in the crimes. The trial is being closely watched, and the media has been allowed to report on witness testimony, but with some restrictions.
Initially, Judge Nomfundo Sipunzi had ruled that the media could not reveal the identities or personal details of witnesses called by the state or the defence. The publication or broadcast of witness testimony and exhibits presented in court was also prohibited, unless authorised by the court. However, on Wednesday, Sipunzi amended the ruling, allowing the media to report on witness testimony but not to reveal the identities of witnesses or information that could identify them.
The trial was adjourned until Thursday, and it is expected that more witnesses will testify in the coming days. The state is seeking to prove that the seven accused were involved in the murder of AKA and Tibz, and the evidence presented so far suggests that the investigation is ongoing. The case has garnered significant attention, and the public is eagerly awaiting the outcome.
The murder of AKA and Tibz occurred on February 16, 2023, outside a former Florida Road restaurant. The police have been working to bring the perpetrators to justice, and the testimony of the former police officer is seen as a crucial part of the state's case. The trial will continue, and the court will hear more evidence before reaching a verdict.
Key points
- The former police officer's testimony provided a ballistic link between the murder of a Durban taxi boss in May 2022 and the murder of rapper AKA and businessman Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane in February 2023.
