Five men accused of murdering AKA & Tibz denied bail

DURBAN - The five men in the dock for the double murder of rapper Kiernan "AKA’" Forbes and celebrity chef, Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane will remain behind bars after they were denied bail by the Durban Magistrates Court on Wednesday.  

The five were arrested in February after they were linked to the murders that gripped the country in 2023. 

Forbes and Motsoane were gunned down outside a popular restaurant over a year ago, in what's believed to have been a hit. 

Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Ndimande face a litany of charges for their alleged involvement in the murders of Forbes and Motsoane. 

The charges include two counts of murder, five of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of unlawful firearms and ammunition, as well as money laundering. 

Magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo said that his bail decision was based on the evidence before him.

"It's not based the attitude or the arguments by the defence team or the presiding officer in his personal capacity but the nature and strength of the evidence presented in court."

Hlatshwayo said that cellphone, car tracker logs and bank records suggested that the men could have a case to answer to.

"Looking at the evidence that was presented before me, I note that there is a golden thread that runs through the evidence of Warrant Officer Pillay, that connects and places all the applicants at more than one scene together, except for applicant 3." 

The matter has been postponed to 8 August this year.