By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
The five men accused of being involved in the murder of rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and his friend Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane appeared in Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for their bail application.
Just over a year, after Forbes and Motsoane were gunned down outside the Wish Restaurant on Durban’s Florida Road, police announced the arrests of the suspects who have so far twice appeared in court under heavy police guard.
Only two of the suspects, Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi and Siyanda Eddie Myeza, were able to present bail applications before Magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo.
Mkhwanazi and Myeza will plead not guilty.
The other three suspects Lindani Ndimande, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Ndimande, could not apply for bail because their affidavits are not ready yet. The court will hear their bail applications on their next appearance on Monday, 18 March.
In their last appearance, the state confirmed that two charges of money laundering had been added to the dozen charges.
The first new charge was against accused number four, Gwabeni who is believed to be the mastermind and co-ordinator in the assassination plot.
While Mkhwanazi, Ndimande’ brothers face a charge of benefiting from proceedings of money laundering.
All of the accused, including Myeza face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Alll in all, the suspects face 10 charges including conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder,attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and money laundering.
Myeza’s private legal representative has previously told reporters that the accused have nothing to do with the murder.
Meanwhile, the extradition case of two brothers, arrested in eSwatini has been postponed to next week Wednesday. NPA KZN spokesperson Natasha Kara said, the NPA can confirm that the process is underway. The National Director of Public Prosecutions has signed the relevant documentation, and it has been forwarded to the Department of Justice, which is the central authority figure in the process.”
Magistrate Hlatshawayo says all the accused will remain in custody at Westville Prison.
“The matter is postponed to an agreed date, which is the 18th of March 2024. Applicant number 1 to 5, you will be kept in custody at the Westville Correctional Services until then.”
The slain rapper’s father, Tony Forbes, said he still maintains that the mastermind behind his son’s killing has not yet been arrested.
Before the start of court proceedings, he said he was confident that bail would be opposed.
“I firmly believe the team has done the work to provide the basis. I am here to support the team and to represent my family. “I feel confident that a lot of work has been done by the team to be able to oppose bail so that they do not get bail.”
According to the police, AKA was the main target of the shooting and his friend Motsoane was caught in the crossfire.
Police said the day AKA was killed a spotter followed him from King Shaka International Airport to his hotel and thereafter to the restaurant. Another spotter was inside the Wish restaurant.