DURBAN – The seven men accused of involvement in the murders of renowned South African rapper Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, popularly known as AKA, and his close friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane are set to stand trial from October 5 to November 6, 2026, following their appearance before the Durban High Court on Thursday.
The accused, who remain behind bars, appeared before the court as pre-trial proceedings continued in one of South Africa’s most closely watched criminal cases.
Among those who appeared were Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande and Malusi Dave Ndimande, who were extradited from Eswatini last year after South African authorities successfully secured their return to face prosecution. They appeared alongside co-accused Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the seven men face a raft of serious charges linked to the February 2023 killings. These include conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, multiple counts of attempted murder, as well as firearm- and ammunition-related offences.
The case stems from the fatal shooting of Forbes and Motsoane on February 10, 2023. The pair were gunned down outside a popular restaurant on Florida Road, a bustling entertainment district on the outskirts of Durban’s central business district.
The killings sent shockwaves across South Africa and beyond, prompting widespread public outrage and calls for justice. AKA was one of the country’s most celebrated hip-hop artists, while Motsoane was a respected entrepreneur and media personality.
During Thursday’s court proceedings, the parties addressed various outstanding pre-trial issues. Following deliberations, the court postponed the matter to August 13, 2026, for the finalisation of pre-trial proceedings.
The NPA confirmed that trial dates have now been allocated, with the matter scheduled to run from October 5 to November 6, 2026. Prosecutors and defence lawyers are also expected to discuss additional dates beyond November 6 should the trial require more time.
The upcoming trial is expected to attract significant public and media attention given the high-profile nature of the victims and the complexity of the case. Authorities have previously indicated that the investigation involved extensive intelligence gathering, forensic analysis and cooperation between law enforcement agencies across borders.
The extradition of two of the accused from Eswatini was viewed as a major breakthrough in the case and highlighted the cooperation between South African and Eswatini authorities in combating serious crime.
Since their arrests, the accused have remained in custody as the case progressed through various procedural stages. The court has yet to hear evidence on the merits of the case, and all seven accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
With trial dates now firmly in place, attention will shift to the October proceedings, when the State is expected to begin presenting its case in an effort to secure convictions over the murders that stunned the music industry and captured headlines across the region.
The matter returns to court on August 13 for the completion of pre-trial processes ahead of the commencement of the trial in October.
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