Today, five out of the seven suspects implicated in the tragic murders of Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and Tebello ‘Tibs’ Motsoane appeared before the Durban Magistrates Court. The AKA murder suspect case has been postponed as the court awaits bail verification amid the legal proceedings.
The accused individuals, namely Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi (30), Lindani Zenzele Ndimande (35), Siyanda Eddie Myeza (21), Mziwethemba Gwabeni (36), and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande (29), faced charges ranging from murder to conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The court has decided to postpone the proceedings to next week, Friday, for the purpose of bail verification.
Unmasking in Court
The magistrate instructed the accused to remove their masks during the court session, with a request to the media not to capture images at that time. The defence argued that the severity of the matter warranted the accused’s right to conceal their identities since they had not yet been convicted. The defence also raised concerns about the safety of the accused returning to their communities, especially with live broadcasts of the proceedings.
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Legal Progress and Statements
Police Minister Bheki Cele commended the arrest of seven suspects, considering it a significant step forward in the case. He emphasized that the police, through their investigation, are making progress. Two additional suspects are still in Eswatini, awaiting extradition, indicating ongoing legal processes.
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Nosipho Mnguni from the Royal Eswatini Police Service confirmed the collaboration with the South African Police Service in locating the suspects in Eswatini. Mnguni praised the efficiency of the police force, noting their ability to swiftly apprehend the suspects within a week.