AKA murder accused plead not guilty

The seven men charged with the murders of rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and his friend, celebrity chef Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane, have pleaded not guilty in the Durban High Court.

Forbes and Motsoane were shot and killed on Florida Road in Durban on 10 February 2023. Seven men have since been charged in connection with the murders.

The South African previously reported that Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Ndimande face charges 11 charges including conspiracy to commit murder, murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, five counts of attempted murder, and money laundering.

Five of the accused were arrested in 2024, with the arrests announced by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Two other accused, the Ndimande brothers, were extradited from eSwatini in November 2025 following a lengthy legal process.

The trial is scheduled to run from 5 October to 6 November 2026, with a break on 4 November due to the local government elections.

During proceedings on Monday, all seven accused pleaded not guilty to the 11 charges relating to the murders of Forbes and Motsoane.

However, accused number three, Eddie Myeza, faces an additional six charges in a separate matter. The State has argued that this case should run concurrently with the AKA murder trial because of similarities in the evidence.

Accused number one has also brought an application, supported by the other accused, for a separation of trials. The application is expected to be heard on Tuesday, 6 October.

AKA’s parents express confidence in the case

Speaking to journalists ahead of the proceedings, AKA’s father, Tony Forbes, said investigators had taken time to build a solid case and that he had confidence in the judicial process.

“I am a bit anxious about what I will hear and see, but it is an important event for me to go through as part of closure. That trauma is still there. It’s the first day and I’m preparing myself for what could be another marathon. I don’t think it will be over quickly; it’s got to be done properly,” he said.

AKA’s mother, Lynn Forbes, expressed gratitude to the prosecution and investigating teams. She said she would not attend every court session because she did not want to hear all the details surrounding her son’s death.

Tony Forbes says he is confident as the long-awaited murder trial of AKA and Tibz gets underway. He says the process took time as investigators worked to build a solid case, but admits he is anxious about what he will hear and see in court. Tune in to #eNCA on #DStv403. pic.twitter.com/UdNdfalRIg

— eNCA (@eNCA) October 5, 2026

“I did feel that I had to come today, but I’m not planning on attending all the court sessions, not just because it’s far away, as we live in Johannesburg, but because I don’t have the stomach for it. I don’t want to sit in and listen to all the gory details. I did feel that I had to be here today to acknowledge the process, show respect for the process and express my appreciation to the investigating team,” she said.

Lynn said AKA’s daughter, Kairo, is aware that the trial has begun, but the family has tried to shield her from details of the case.

“Kairo knows that I’m here today. We try not to speak to her too much about it because it can be upsetting, and we try to steer away from that. It’s upsetting for me, so imagine how it is for her,” she said.