KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, says the bank account of alleged businessman Sydney Mfundo Gcaba, a member of the infamous Gcaba family in KwaZulu-Natal, remains the police’s focus in the investigation of the murder of hip-hop artist Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend, chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane.
Mkhwanazi made the comments as brothers, Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande, were formally charged with the murders of Forbes and Motsoane. The two were extradited from Eswatini.
The pair who appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday were initially fighting their extradition to South Africa, but eventually dropped their bid.
The Ndimande brothers, aged 28 and 30, are also charged with the murder of taxi boss William Kunene, who was gunned down in Amanzimtoti, as well as the murder of two members of a family identified as the Ngcobo family. They’re also facing a number of attempted murder charges.
The brothers, believed to be professional hitmen (izinkabi), fled to Eswatini following the shooting of Forbes and Motsoane outside a restaurant on Florida Road in Durban in February 2023. They were arrested by the Eswatini Royal Police Service in 2024.
Their resistance to extradition delayed progress in the case, in which five other suspects have already been charged. Those accused – Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Ndimande – are due to stand trial in July 2026.
They face charges including conspiracy to commit murder, murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, five counts of attempted murder, and money laundering.
The matter was postponed to 25 November to allow the accused time to consult with their legal representatives.
Speaking to the media after court proceedings, Mkhwanazi said investigators are now focusing on identifying who financed the hit on AKA.
In 2024, investigating officer Kumarasan Pillay told the court that a number linked to Gcaba deposited R803 455 into the business account of alleged mastermind Mziwethemba Gwabeni a day after Forbes was killed.
The payment was made by Bright Circle, a company solely owned by Gcaba, using the reference “consult” — which police believe was intended to disguise the true nature of the funds.
Mkhwanazi said the investigation is also looking into Gcaba’s associates who may have transferred money into the same account.
“We are identifying all those that he has business interests with, to establish exactly who above him might have requested him to coordinate this operation,” he said.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done to prove whether a corrupt relationship exists with another party. But for now, we’re confident that the main person who assembled the team, executed the job, and paid the team is among the seven suspects,” he added.
