By Prudence Nhavingo
On the 10th of February 2023, a South African singer Kiernan Forbes known as “AKA” and his friend Tebello known as “Tibz” were shot to death in Durban’s Florida Road and no arrest was made until seven suspects were arrested in February 2024.
The arrest of the five accused was announced by the police brass including KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Police Minister Bheki Cele, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola at the police headquarter in Durban.
According to the Police Minister Mr Bheki Cele the assassination of the singer and his friend disturbed South Africans as it was caught on CCTV camera for everyone to see such a sad moment and with the arrest of the suspects South African well feel safe again.
The names of the five arrested accused were read out at the Durban Magistrate’s Court and are as follows Lindokuhle Thabane Mkhwanazi (30), Lindani Ndimande (30), Eddie Myeza (22), Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni (36) and Lindokuhle Ndimande (29). And the other two suspects who appeared at the Manzini Magistrate’s court in Eswatini are Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande.
On the first appearance of court, it was stated by police that AKA and Tibz murder was planned but Tibz was not the target only AKA was as the singer was followed from King Shaka Airport by three accused. Also, the court stated that there was someone who was providing the killers with weapons, someone who is the mastermind and the two brother who shot AKA and Tibz. The police added by naming the company that paid the killers for AKA’s murder which is Bright Circle owned by Sydney Mfunda Gcaba.
AKA’s Father Tony Forbes who was attending the court day commented on the arrest by saying that he does not believe that among the arrested accused there is a mastermind who planned, give out resource and paid the killers as he believes that the mastermind is someone rich and has resources.
“We know the suspects are paid for murder of the singer”, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi added.
After the arrest of the five suspects who appeared at the Durban’s Magistrate Court the two suspects who were still hiding were arrested in eSwatini who happened to be brothers and the community was shocked by their arrest.
The eSwatini community police says that the suspects came to eSwatini late in October or November they were five or seven but only two remained in house. It was stated that the suspect used to party a lot every night, but they were never suspected of anything as they were also friendly people who always locked their gates.
