KZN police shifting their focus to mastermind behind AKA murder

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says investigators are shifting their focus to the mastermind who allegedly ordered and possibly financed the assassination of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane.

Mkhwanazi spoke outside the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, after the appearance of Siyabonga and Melusi Ndimande, who were recently extradited from eSwatini to face multiple charges linked to the high-profile murders.

The Ndimande brothers face 11 charges, including two counts of murder for the fatal shooting of AKA and Tibz outside Wish restaurant on Florida Road in February 2023.

According to State prosecutor Advocate Lawrence Gcaba, the siblings face the same charges as five other accused already before the court. The matter of the five accused was postponed to July 2026.

Mkhwanazi confirmed that police had identified a coordinator who used a business bank account to pay those involved in the contract killing.

"We did explain before that they played different roles. We know that there is a head who coordinated everything. And that person had paid the entire group after the job. But he used his bank account to transfer money, and that's a business account that he used," said Mkhwanazi.He added that they are investigating further to find out the links with the business account to identify who transferred the money into the account.

“The money was paid through a business account,” said Mkhwanazi. “We are continuing to investigate that account to see who deposited the funds and who is linked to it.”

He added that while police were satisfied with the seven arrests made so far, investigations were continuing to trace “someone higher up who ordered the hit.”

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) monitored the extradition and transport of the Ndimande brothers to ensure their rights were protected.

The State has confirmed it will oppose bail. Magistrate Irfaan Khalil postponed the case to November 25, 2025, to give the defence team time to consult their clients.

The Ndimande brothers were handed over to South African authorities after they abandoned their appeal against the eSwatini court’s decision to approve their extradition.

In addition to the AKA murder charges, the siblings are also accused in several other murder cases linked to the taxi industry.

The killing of AKA and Tibz sent shockwaves across South Africa and sparked national outrage, with fans calling for justice for the award-winning rapper.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE