AKA and Tibz Murder Trial: Suspects Denied Bail

Picture Courtes: (SABC News) Five men accused of murdering AKA and Tibz in court for the Magistrate’s verdict on their bail application.

(The Post News)– The Durban Magistrate Court has denied bail to the five men suspected to be connected to the murders of Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane. The five suspects appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, May 15. The five suspects applied for bail on the 2nd of May and appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, May 15, for the Magistrate’s verdict on the bail.

The five suspects are Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Ndimande. The five men have spent the past few months behind bars following their arrest in February, along with two other suspects, Siyabonga Ndimande and Malusi Ndimande, who were apprehended in Eswatini.

The state has been, for the past few months, opposing their application for bail. According to the state, a day after the two men were killed, a total of R800, 000 was transferred into Gwabeni’s bank account, and he then distributed R665, 000 to the other suspects, including the two other suspects that await extradition in Eswatini.

For this reason, the state believes that Gwabeni is the mastermind behind organizing the hit on AKA. Gwabeni has denied these allegations. The state established that Mayeza was not on Gwabeni’s payroll and was not present when the deceased were killed. However, it proves that Mayeza was the one who provided the two guns used at the scene of the murders.

Altogether, the accused face charges of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, as well as illegal possession of ammunition and firearms. The state added a charge of money laundering for four of the suspects, excluding Gwabeni. AKA and Tibz were gunned down outside a popular restaurant located on Florida Road in Durban.

Police investigations suggest that the suspects targeted AKA and Tibz as collateral damage. AKA was allegedly followed from the time he arrived in Durban until the time he was murdered. According to Magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo, releasing the five suspects on bail would be reckless and irresponsible, and he said that the defense failed to refute the evidence the state presented against the suspects.

The case has been postponed until August 8th, and the suspects are expected to remain at the Durban Westville Correctional Services until their upcoming court date. Meanwhile, the defense aims to appeal Hlatshwayo’s ruling.

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Nomfundo Ngobese

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An experienced journalist who believes that giving voice to the voiceless can lead to constructive social change. For me, journalism is more than just writing stories; it is about enlightening, educating, and entertaining people of all ages, rich and poor, literate or illiterate. As a news editor at TPN, my responsibility is to guarantee people encounter all of these features through well-written, properly structured, and easy-to-understand stories, while also ensuring that our agency adheres to the essential principles and values of journalism.

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