Brothers linked to AKA and Tibz murders return to SA

Two brothers accused of involvement in the murders of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane are expected to arrive in South Africa on Tuesday following their extradition from the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Siyabonga Ndimande and Malusi Ndimande, who were arrested in Eswatini earlier this year, will be flown to King Shaka International Airport in KwaZulu Natal, where they will be handed over to South African police. Their extradition comes after they abandoned an appeal against being sent back to South Africa, allowing Eswatini authorities to approve the order last week.

South African Police Service (SAPS) national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that a team of South African officers, working with Interpol and the Eswatini Royal Police, coordinated the extradition process. She said a high-risk police team had departed for Eswatini early on Tuesday morning to collect the two suspects.

“So now we have a total of seven suspects,” said Mathe. “I can confirm that a high-risk team left South Africa to the Kingdom of Eswatini International Airport where they will meet with Interpol officers. The handover will take place between Interpol South Africa and Interpol Eswatini.”

Mathe explained that once the brothers land at King Shaka International Airport, they will be formally handed over to the lead investigator, who will execute a J50 warrant of arrest. The warrant covers several charges related to the high-profile murders as well as other violent crimes.

“You will recall that the two brothers are wanted on three separate cases,” Mathe said. “The first case involves the murder of a taxi boss in Amanzimtoti in 2022, where they face five charges. The second case involves the murders of AKA and Tibz, where they face 11 charges. They are also facing 11 additional charges for the murder of another taxi boss and the attempted murder of his wife.”

According to Mathe, the suspects will be processed immediately after landing. Police will take fingerprints, obtain warning statements, and inform them of their rights and the charges they face. Legal representatives will be made available before they are taken to a local police station for further processing.

“Once all the administrative procedures are completed, they will be taken to court where they are expected to appear before a magistrate today,” she said.

Mathe said the extradition operation was classified as high risk because of the nature of the crimes and the suspects involved. “The extradition order and the surrender order indicate that they must be out of Eswatini on Tuesday morning. This is a high-risk operation. We are dealing with two men accused of being contract killers who get paid to kill people,” she said.

The extradition marks a major step in the investigation into the deaths of Forbes and Motsoane, who were shot outside a Durban restaurant in February 2023. The double murder sent shockwaves through South Africa and sparked a large-scale investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.

With the return of the Ndimande brothers, police now have seven suspects in custody in connection with the killings. The SAPS has confirmed that further investigations are ongoing and that the prosecution team will continue to gather evidence ahead of the trial.

Both suspects are expected to appear in a Durban court once they are processed, where formal charges will be presented.