AKA murder suspects set to face charges in SA
By Delisa Magagula
Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande and Malusi David Ndimande, accused of the murder of South African rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and his friend and business partner Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane, are set to leave Eswatini next Tuesday to stand trial in South Africa.
The extradition follows formal confirmation by South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, that Eswatini has granted the extradition order after the brothers withdrew their appeal against being sent back to face trial.
The Ndimande brothers were arrested in February 2024 during a joint operation by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and South African authorities.
They have been contesting extradition through legal channels, culminating in a Supreme Court appeal, which they have now abandoned.
“With the withdrawal of the appeal, the acting prime minister of Eswatini has granted the extradition order,” Kubayi said in a statement.
She added that all logistical arrangements for the handover would be coordinated between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and local authorities through diplomatic channels.
The pair will face charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
Worth noting is that the fatal shooting of AKA and Motsoane outside a Durban restaurant in February 2023 sparked national outrage and a lengthy multi-country investigation.
“The department has received confirmation that the pair will be brought back to South Africa on November 11 to stand trial on charges that include murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition,” Kubayi stated.
She noted that further details regarding the brothers’ first court appearance in KwaZulu-Natal would be released once they arrive in South Africa.
On February 10, 2023, AKA and his friend Tibz were shot dead outside a restaurant on Florida Road, Durban. The shooting was a targeted attack, and authorities confirmed it was not a random act of violence.
Witnesses and video footage indicated that the shooters approached deliberately. A total of seven men have been charged in connection with the murders.
Two of these, the Ndimande brothers, were arrested in Eswatini and have now agreed to extradition. SAPS confirmed that they face 24 charges across three cases, including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and unlawful possession of automatic firearms and ammunition.
Authorities have not disclosed the exact motive behind the killings. While there has been public speculation, law enforcement continues to investigate the full chain of accountability and orchestration of the attack.
Some earlier reports incorrectly linked other suspects, which police later clarified.
During its peak, the case, according to industry commentators, highlighted the cross-border cooperation required in high-profile criminal investigations, particularly those involving organized crime and gun violence.
AKA, a leading figure in South Africa’s music industry, was widely respected, and his death raised questions about security for celebrities and public figures.
AKA (real name Kiernan Jarryd Forbes) was a highly influential and multi-award-winning South African rapper, record producer, and businessman.
?
He was also known as ‘Supa Mega’ or ‘Bhova’, was born on January 28, 1988, in Cape Town, South Africa, and tragically died on February 10, 2023, in Durban at the age of 35.
He ?gained widespread recognition after releasing his hit single ‘Victory Lap’ from his debut studio album. The manner in which he died, although sad, is common worldwide.
Oupa Sefoka, widely known as DJ Sumbody, was killed along with his bodyguard in a drive-by shooting in Johannesburg. He was a major figure in the Amapiano music scene.
In America, an American rapper, entrepreneur, and activist known professionally as Nipsey Hussle, born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, died on March 31, 2019, at the age of 33. He was fatally shot outside of his store, Marathon Clothing, in Los Angeles.