The trial of seven men accused of killing rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane has started in the Durban High Court.
The accused returned to court on Monday, 5 October, more than three years after gunmen shot AKA and Tibz outside a restaurant on Durban’s Florida Road.
Prosecutors are expected to call about 45 witnesses as the State sets out its case against the seven men.
They face a string of charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, murder, attempted murder and firearm-related offences.
The accused are:
AKA and Tibz gunned down in Durban
Gunmen killed AKA and Tibz outside the Wish restaurant on Florida Road on 10 February 2023.
CCTV footage captured the moments before the shooting and the attack itself.
Police have previously said investigators believe AKA was the intended target, while Tibz was killed after he became caught in the gunfire.
The high-profile murders sparked a lengthy investigation that stretched across South Africa and Eswatini.
Police arrested several suspects in February 2024.
Two of the accused, brothers Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande, were arrested in Eswatini before South African authorities secured their extradition.
They were later brought back to South Africa to stand trial alongside the other accused.
All seven remain in custody.
Families return to court
AKA’s father, Tony Forbes, attended court as the trial got under way.
Forbes has spoken openly about the toll his son’s murder has taken on the family and the importance of finally reaching the trial stage.
“The trauma is still there,” he said ahead of proceedings.
The Forbes and Motsoane families have waited more than three years to hear the State’s full case against the men accused of carrying out the murders.
Tibz’s father, Sylvester Motsoane, was also at court for the start of the trial.
Long road to AKA murder trial
The case faced several delays before reaching trial.
The extradition of the Ndimande brothers formed a major part of the delay as authorities worked to bring them back from Eswatini.
The case also went through lengthy pre-trial proceedings before the Durban High Court certified it trial-ready.
The first leg of the trial is expected to continue until 6 November 2026, with further court dates set for 2027.
The State will now begin presenting the evidence it says links the seven accused to the planning and execution of the murders.
The accused have not been convicted and remain innocent until proven guilty.
