AKA & Tibz murder: Police make breakthrough arrests in 2024, trial set to start in 2025

DURBAN - The high-profile murder case of rapper Kiernan Forbes and his friend, celebrity chef Tebello Motsoane, continued to make headlines this year.

More than a year after the murders, police arrested seven suspects in March.

Forbes and Motsoane were shot and killed outside Durban's Wish Restaurant in the popular Florida Road back in February 2023.

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The incident captured by CCTV footage went viral on social media sending shockwaves across the country.

The killing of Forbes, famously known as AKA, and Motsoane, better known as Tibz, left the country and the international community stunned.

Though police made the first arrest a month after the pair was killed, it was only in March this year when they announced the breakthrough, after arresting seven people for the murders.

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi told reporters the hit was well planned and coordinated, citing that Forbes was the specific target and that Motsoane was killed in the crossfire.

"These six played different roles during the operation. We have the coordinator, who is basically the master of everything, he is in custody. We have two shooters that you all saw on social media, we have two spotters, one of them was inside the restaurant observing and watching Mr forbes and friends, as well as the organiser of firearms and vehicles."

In May, the Durban Magistrates Court denied the accused bail.

The State also indicated that all investigations were at an advanced stage and a trial is expected to proceed in 2025.

Prosecutors are also expected to present new evidence and call witnesses.

Efforts to extradite two other suspects from Eswatini are still underway.

However, Magistrate Vincent Hlatswayo said that the trial has to proceed.