Latest news with #Ndimande
News24
12-06-2025
- News24
AKA, Tibz murder trial to be heard over three months next year
KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Thoba Poyo-Dlwati sternly warned against delays in the trial of five people accused of the murder of rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and his friend, Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane. Their trial for the 2023 murders will be heard over three months next year. The pre-trial conference was postponed to 24 July. The trial of five men accused of the murder of award-winning South African rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and his friend, Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane, will be heard over three months next year. KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Thoba Poyo-Dlwati revealed this on Thursday when he sternly warned the State and defence to ensure that there were no delays. 'When the matter is set down, you must ensure you will be available. A term is three months. We can't have part-heard matters going on forever. Some of my colleagues (judges) are retiring, and when there are partly heard matters they are dealing with, they have to come back for them. When dates are being arranged, you have to make sure that you arrive for them in that term,' Poyo-Dlwati warned. READ | AKA, Tibz murder accused appoint former prosecutions boss as their lawyer Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 21, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 37, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, 29, are charged with the murder of Forbes and Motsoane. A specific date for the trial, however, has not been set. Instead, the matter was postponed to 24 July for a pre-trial conference. At a previous court appearance, KwaZulu-Natal Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Lawrence Gcaba said all the accused would be represented by former acting KwaZulu-Natal director of public prosecutions Simphiwe Mlotshwa, who is now a defence advocate. However, this is no longer the case. Mlotshwa will only represent Mkhwanazi and Lindokuhle Ndimande. Advocate Paul Jorgensen will represent Lindani Ndimande and Gwabeni, and advocate Mkhululi Nkomo will represent Myeza. Darren Stewart/Gallo Images On Thursday, Lindani Ndimande entered the dock wearing white Karl Lagerfeld sneakers, a matching leather jacket, and pants. He also wore a fez (Islamic headgear). Speaking outside court about the extradition of brothers Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande and Malusi Dave Ndimande from Eswatini, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the appeal process was still under way. 'The respondents will have to file their heads of argument, which will be followed by the State. After that, the matter will be set down for hearing in the Eswatini High Court.'
The Citizen
08-05-2025
- The Citizen
Delays in AKA-Tibz murder case as extradition process unfolds in eSwatini
The case has been postponed to June. Five suspects during the AKA-Tibz murder case at Durban Magistrate's Court on 29 February 2024. Picture: Gallo Images/Darren Stewart The murder case involving five men accused of killing rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane has been postponed to next month. Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimane, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Mkhwanazi appeared at the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) High Court in Durban on Thursday for a pre-trial conference. The case was transferred from the Durban Magistrate's Court in February, following the defence's receipt of the indictment. Two more suspects, Siyabonga Ndimande and Malusi Ndimande, are in custody in eSwatini, awaiting extradition to South Africa. AKA-Tibz murder case postponed During proceedings, state prosecutor Advocate Lawrence Gcaba informed Judge Jacqueline Henriques that the five accused have appointed new legal counsel. The men will now be represented by Advocate Simphiwe Cyril Mlotshwa. Gcaba also confirmed the appointment of Sibusiso Dlamini as the instructing attorney. 'My understanding is that Advocate Mlotshwa will be instructed for all five,' the prosecutor said. He explained that the attorneys were not present in court because they were attending the extradition appeal in eSwatini, where the Ndimande brothers are challenging a ruling that approved their return to South Africa. 'They are not here today because they are also attending to the extradition appeal in the Swaziland Supreme Court.' ALSO READ: AKA-Tibz murder: Accused argues detention is a punishment and details family's financial strain The extradition ruling was issued by the Manzini Magistrate's Court in August 2024. The prosecution previously stated that if the Ndimande brothers are not extradited in time, the trial will proceed without them. Gcaba requested that the pre-trial conference be postponed to 12 June, a date that the defence and Gcaba mutually agreed upon. 'The state has already disclosed the contents of the dockets,' he added. The judge granted the postponement, and the accused will remain in custody. Accused's charges The five men are facing multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, murder, unlawful possession of firearms, and possession of unlicensed ammunition, all in connection with the deaths of Forbes and Motsoane. In addition, Mkhwanazi, Ndimande, Myeza, and Gwabeni face charges of money laundering. READ MORE: CCTV, cellphone records link accused to AKA murder, state argues in bail case They are also charged with the attempted murder of Tshediso 'Don Design' Mokoko, Thotloetso Kutlwano Mogotsi, Lusaso Buthanani Ngcobo, Siyabonga Makhosative Mdluli, and Kerwyn Clive Patrick Jackson. All the accused were denied bail in May 2024. Earlier this year, in January, Gwabeni and Ndimande were denied bail for a second time. Background Forbes and Motsoane were gunned down outside the now-closed restaurant Wish, located on Durban's Florida Road, on 10 February 2023. According to the state, CCTV footage and other evidence allegedly show the suspects tracking Forbes at King Shaka International Airport on the day of the murder. The suspects were allegedly paid R800 000 for their involvement. NOW READ: AKA-Tibz murder case: Accused claim R800K funds were wedding gifts and payments
The Herald
08-05-2025
- The Herald
AKA murder: court delay as defence lawyer is unavailable
The pretrial conference for the five men linked to the murder of rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and his celebrity chef friend Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane has been put on ice for now at the Durban high court. Senior prosecutor Lawrence Gcaba requested the postponement as defence advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa is in Eswatini. The court heard Mlotshwa would now represent all five accused. Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 21, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 36, and Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Ndimande, 29, arrested in February last year in connection with the murders, again appeared in the Durban magistrate's court on Thursday. In February the five were served with high-court indictments. Forbes and Motsoane were shot dead outside Wish restaurant on Florida Road in Durban on February 10 2023. The five face charges including murder, attempted murder, possession of unlawful firearms and ammunition. Presiding judge Jacqueline Henriques adjourned the matter to June 12. TimesLIVE
