Long-awaited trial over the deaths of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his close friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane gets under way.
Ndimande
1Min
South Africa
AKA and Tibz murder trial set to begin in Durban
Seven accused are expected to appear in the Durban High Court as the long-awaited trial over the deaths of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his close friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane gets under way.
The long-awaited trial into the deaths of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane is expected to begin at the Durban High Court on Monday.
Seven people are facing multiple charges linked to the February 2023 killings, including conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, attempted murder, as well as charges relating to firearms and ammunition.
AKA and Tibz were shot dead outside Wish Restaurant on Florida Road in Durban on 10 February 2023.
Among those accused are brothers Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande, who were extradited from Eswatini to South Africa in November 2025 to face the charges.
The State alleges that the accused had different roles in the events leading up to the fatal shooting.
The prosecution is expected to present evidence from at least 45 witnesses during the trial as it seeks to establish what happened before and during the attack.
The matter was initially scheduled to begin on 20 July but was postponed.
The trial is expected to shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the high-profile killings, which shocked South Africa's entertainment industry and attracted widespread public attention.
