Award-winning rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes’ mother, Lynn Forbes, became visibly emotional at the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday as two of the seven men accused of killing her son and celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane made a brief appearance.
Brothers Malusi and Siyabonga Ndimande, who were extradited from Eswatini earlier this month after just over a year on the run, appeared for the second time since their return to South Africa. The pair, aged 28 and 30, face multiple charges, including:
- The murders of AKA and Tibz in February 2023
- The murder of taxi boss William Kunene in Amanzimtoti
- The murders of two members of the Ngcobo family
- Several counts of attempted murder
The Ndimande brothers, believed to be professional hitmen (izinkabi), fled to Eswatini shortly after Forbes and Motsoane were shot dead outside a popular restaurant on Florida Road in Durban. They were arrested in 2024 by the Eswatini Royal Police Service, paving the way for their eventual extradition.
Inside the courtroom, Lynn Forbes appeared overwhelmed from the onset, often clutching her necklace and wiping away tears as she watched the brothers. Her presence highlighted the emotional toll the case continues to take on the Forbes family nearly three years after the murder.
Lynn expressed gratitude to the prosecutorial team led by advocate Lawrence Gcaba for its progress in the complex, cross-border investigation.
The matter was postponed to 9 January 2026 to allow the defence time to request additional documentation from the state relating to the brothers’ extradition and take further instructions from the accused.
