By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The case against the Ndimande brothers accused in the murders of Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, has been formally transferred to the Durban High Court.
Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande appeared briefly in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.
Forbes and Motsoane were gunned down at the now defunct Wish restaurant in Florida Road in February 2023.
Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30 Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 21, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 36, and Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Ndimande, 29, were arrested in connection with the deaths.
The Ndimande brothers will now join their five co-accused in the High Court.
For several months, the brothers fought their extradition, but they withdrew their appeal in October, which cleared the way for their return.
Their legal battles in Eswatini had delayed progress in the case, with local authorities confirming that South Africa’s extradition request was properly lodged and approved under SADC protocols.
All accused face the charges of attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, among others.
During the proceedings, Magistrate Ashwin Singh said, “This matter is now transferred to the Durban High Court.”
“You’ll appear in the Durban High Court on the 19th of June, 2026, in terms of section 75, subsection 1, paragraph C of Act 51 of 77.”
Both accused will be remanded in custody and warned to appear before the High Court on that date.
Singh also confirmed that bail was no longer in place, noting that it had been abandoned at an earlier stage.
Defence attorney Sibusiso Dlamini confirmed receipt of the indictment on behalf of his clients, as well as dispensing with the interpretation and reading of the document into the record.
The magistrate confirmed that the state may be consolidating charges across all the accused.
“I believe that the state may be joining charges in the High Court again with the other accused as well, “he said.
For the record, Singh noted that indictments in all three matters had been entered as Exhibit A before the session concluded.
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, at 45 people per 100,000 according to 2023-24 figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.