Latest news with #Kiernan'AKA'Forbes
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
State prioritises witness protection in AKA and Tibz murder case
South African rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes was killed in February 2023 in Durban. Image: X The State continues to protect its witnesses by keeping its cards close to its chest, refusing to give the defence names of the unknown additional witnesses and their statements in the murder cases of South African rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and his friend Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane. The friends were shot dead in Florida Road, Durban, outside Wish Restaurant in February 2023. Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande are accused of the murders; additionally, they are facing 10 other charges, including attempted murder. During the pre-trial conference at the Durban High Court on Wednesday morning, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Lawrence Gcaba told the court that the State made it clear from the onset that they were not going to give the defence the names of the additional State witnesses and their statements in terms of section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Act. Section 144 allows the state to withhold the names of certain witnesses it intends to call during the trial. Previously, senior prosecutor Advocate Elvis Gcweka, who is working with Gcaba on the matter, told the court that the State would lead the trial with 45 witnesses and additional witnesses. The names of the additional witnesses have been withheld for their protection. 'I was approached and informed that an application to compel the State to give the defence the witness statements would be made. That hasn't happened,' Gcaba told the court. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane and his friend AKA were shot dead in Florida Road, Durban, outside Wish Restaurant in February 2023. Image: Instagram He said he had told the defence to make the application. Defence lawyer Advocate Jimmy Howse SC said he had mentioned the issue of the witness statements to Gcaba. The former acting director of public prosecutions, now defence counsel advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, said they were contemplating compelling the State to give them the witness statements. As the defence counsels wanted to engage more on this, Judge Jacqueline Henriques interjected and said these discussions should not be taking place in the presence of the media. 'I am uncomfortable with that being laid out in the public domain,' she said. She ordered both the State and defence to have a discussion about this, off record, while she stood the matter down and the gallery was cleared. The matter then returned to court, and Gcaba requested that the court make an order for the matter to be adjourned to June 19, 2026 and during this time, both parties would sort out their issues. The accused from left Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande at the Durban High Court. Image: Nomonde Zondi
IOL News
08-05-2025
- IOL News
Five suspects appear for pre-trial hearing in AKA murder case
South African award-winning rapper, AKA was tragically killed in February 2023 on Florida Road, Durban The five suspects accused of murdering Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane are set to appear in the Durban High Court on Thursday for a pre-trial hearing. AKA and Tibz were shot dead while leaving the Wish restaurant in Durban's Florida Road on February 10, 2023. The accused, Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Ndimande, face a raft of charges including murder and money laundering.
