Latest news with #SimphiweMlotshwa
News24
08-05-2025
- News24
AKA, Tibz murder accused appoint former prosecutions boss as their lawyer
The pretrial hearing for the five accused of the murders of South African rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and his friend Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane, have been postponed. The five stand accused of murder and money laundering. The accused will be represented by a former KZN deputy director of public prosecutions who turned defence advocate. The pretrial hearing of five men accused of the murder of multi-award-winning South African rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and his friend Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane have been postponed to June. AKA was gunned down on 10 February 2023 along with Motsoane on Durban's Florida Road. Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 21, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 37, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, 29, appeared briefly in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban on Thursday. Their pretrial was, however, adjourned after an agreement reached between the State and the defence. KwaZulu-Natal Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Lawrence Gcaba told the court that the accused's legal representative advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, was unavailable as he was in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Eswatini representing the two other accused, Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande and Malusi Dave Ndimande, in their extradition hearing. 'All five of the accused will now be represented by Mlotshwa. Due to him being in Eswatini by arrangement, may the matter be adjourned to 12 June,' asked Gcaba. Previously, in the Durban case, Mlotshwa only represented Mkhwanazi and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande while Myeza was represented by Yolanda Gielink, and advocate Joe Wolmarans represented Gwabeni and Lindani Zenzele Ndimande. Mlotshwa, who now represents all five accused, is a former Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal. The accused face 12 counts including two murders, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, five attempted murders, and money laundering. The State alleges that Gwabs Mining, owned by accused Gwabeni, received an amount of R803 455 on the pretext that it was for the services of a consultant when in fact it had been for AKA's murder. Gwabeni allegedly transferred over R100 000 into each of the accused's bank accounts, including that of Ndimande, who is currently in eSwatini, fighting extradition. It emerged during the accused's bail application that the money was paid by a company, Bright Circle, into Gwabeni's FNB account a day after the murder and investigations uncovered that Sydney to Mfunda Gcaba was the sole director of Bright Circle and that cellphone records show that before the money was deposited, Gwabeni made a call to a number linked to Gcaba. Outside court, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara explained that in August last year, the Manzini Magistrate's Court in Eswatini had issued an order for the Ndimande brothers to be extradited, but they filed a notice to appeal this. However, the prosecution team believed that the brother's notice should be null and void because it was filed out of time and made an application regarding that. 'In November last year, the High Court ruled that the two brothers filed within the time, and today the prosecution is taking that on appeal in the SCA in Eswatini.'
IOL News
08-05-2025
- IOL News
Pre-trail hearing for 5 accused in the AKA's murder matter will commence in June
From left Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande at the Durban High Court for their first appearance Image: Nomonde Zondi THE pre-trial conference into the murder of well-known rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes and his friend chef Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane will commence on June 12. Judge Jacqueline Henriques who is presiding over matter at the Durban High Court confirmed the adjournment after the five accused appeared briefly before her on Thursday. The former acting director of public prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, Advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, instructed by attorney Sibusiso Dlamini, would be representing all five accused in a matter that has drawn much media attention and public interest. Advocate Lawrence Gcaba, the KZN deputy director of public prosecutions, confirmed Mlothshwa and Dlamini's appointment during proceedings. Forbes and Motsoane were shot and killed outside Wish restaurant in Durban on Florida Road on February 10, 2023. Slain South African award-winning rapper, AKA Image: Instagram/akaworldwide The five accused, Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, made a brief appearance in this court. Included on the list of charges they face were two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, five counts of attempted murder, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Former acting NPA head in KwaZulu-Natal Advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa. Picture: Jacques Naude/African News Agency (ANA) Image: Jacques Naude/African News Agency (ANA) Gcaba agreed that the matter be postponed to June 12 for a pre-trial conference, while Mlotshwa would travel to eSwatini for the extradition appeal of the two other accused in the matter, Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande and Malusi Dave Ndimande. Previously, Mlotshwa represented Mkhwanazi and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, while Myeza was represented by attorney Yolanda Gielink; Gwabeni and Lindani were represented by advocate Joe Wolmarans. The State has alleged that Gwabs Mining, owned by Gwabeni, received R803 455 from a company called Bright Circle, where Mfunda Gcaba was a sole director with reference services of consult, when in fact it had been for AKA's murder. Chef Tibz Image: Instagram The money was received a day after the murder. According to cellphone records, it has been alleged that Gwabeni made a phone call to a number linked to Mfunda before the money was deposited. The State said that Gwabeni transferred over R100 000 into the bank accounts of his co-accused. and that he followed AKA and his entourage from the airport until he arrived at a hotel in Mhlanga. When Gwabeni applied for bail on new facts, Gcaba said they had received footage from the airport, which clearly showed Gwabeni following the wrapper while he was on the phone. Additionally, the State alleged that Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande was at Wish Restaurant whilst AKA was there and chose a spot where the rapper and his company would be within his sight. The State said he was busy on his phone with a meal before him, but also kept an eye on AKA's movements, and when the shooting occurred, he remained inside the establishment and was not shaken like the other patrons were. DAILY NEWS
