Times Of Swaziland: AKA’S SUSPECTED KILLERS PAID R800K, 2 ARRESTED AT MAHWALALA

AKA’S SUSPECTED KILLERS PAID R800K, 2 ARRESTED AT MAHWALALA
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Mbongiseni Ndzimandze on 27/02/2024 09:13:00


MANZINI – An amount of R800 000 was reportedly paid and shared among the
alleged killers of rapper Kiernan Jarred Forbes popularly known as ‘AKA’.
AKA and his friend Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane were gunned down in February last
year on Florida Road in Durban. The rapper was standing outside the WISH
Restaurant when a gunman walked up to him and shot him in the head. The rapper
died instantly. The accused persons from Durban, Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande
(Nxele) and Malusi Dave Ndimande (Mjay) were arrested by members of the Royal
Eswatini Police Service (REPS), while hiding in a flat they rented at Zone 4 in
Mbabane.  From the sum of E800 000, the Ndimande brothers are alleged to have
received R133 000, as their share. Besides the charge of the alleged murder of
the rapper, they are also facing two other charges, where they are alleged to
have ended the lives of two South African businessmen.
Brothers
The Ndimande brothers, who are aged 28 and 29 respectively, made their maiden
court appearance before Manzini Principal Magistrate David Khumalo yesterday.
They were remanded in custody pending the formal application for their
extradition to their home country. The details on how they allegedly committed
the crime and how much they were purportedly paid, are contained in an
application for provisional arrest filed by Elaine Harrison, who is the Director
of Public Prosecutions (DPP) based at the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High
Court. According to the charge sheet, the first count against the suspects was
that of the murder of Forbes.  They are also facing charges of conspiracy to
murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and money laundering. 
The DPP narrated to the court that in February 2023, Forbes (first deceased), a
prominent South African musician, was hired by Philani Kweyama to perform at a
club called Hugo in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
Entourage
She submitted that on February 10, 2023, Forbes arrived in Durban via King Shaka
International Airport.   She pointed out that Forbes was travelling with his
entourage, comprising of his disk jockey (DJ), bodyguard, manager and
photographer. She said they (Forbes and his entourage) were picked up at the
airport and taken to Hilton Hotel, Umhlanga, Durban. “The Forbes entourage was
followed by a grey BMW from King Shaka Airport to Hilton Hotel.  While the first
deceased and his entourage were at the hotel, a grey Polo with registration NUR
597728 was spotted as having passed the hotel. It was later established that,
this grey Polo was a ‘spotter vehicle’ used by the assailants,” submitted
the DPP (Harrison). She alleged that upon further investigation of cellphone
records, it was established that an individual by the name of Mziwethemba Harvey
Gwabeni was present in the grey BMW that had followed Forbes and his entourage
to the hotel.
According to Harrison, it was also established that Gwabeni had allegedly hired
the grey Polo that was used as a ‘spotter vehicle’. The DPP stated that
cellphone records also placed Siyabonga and Lindokuhle in the vicinity of the
Hilton Hotel. She alleged that at approximately 5:30pm, Forbes and his entourage
were transported to WISH Restaurant, situated at 198 Florida Road, Morningside
Durban. Harrison submitted that when they (Forbes and his entourage) arrived at
the restaurant, Forbes was met by Kweyama, the owner of WISH Restaurant.
Kweyama, according to the DPP, invited Forbes to have a haircut at his salon
that was based inside WISH Restaurant.   She stated that Forbes proceeded to the
salon while his entourage sat at the bar area.  She highlighted that after the
haircut, Forbes joined his entourage for a meal and drinks and they were seated
inside the restaurant. Harrison went on to submit that while having supper,
Forbes was joined by Tabello Motsoane (second deceased).  She brought it to the
court’s attention that the second deceased knew Forbes well, as he was his
(Forbes) previous manager.
“It was established that a ‘spotter’ had been positioned inside the
restaurant, watching Forbes. A subpoena in terms of Section 205 of the Criminal
Procedure Act, 51 of 1977 was obtained for the ‘spotter’.  The information
received from Standard Bank upon the Section 205 subpoena established that the
Standard Bank card belonged to Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Ndimande and that the said
account was opened on the morning of the incident by Lindokuhle,” submitted
the DPP.   Harrison averred that a video footage outside the WISH Restaurant
revealed that the grey Polo stopped outside the restaurant while Forbes was
inside the restaurant. She alleged that the clothing of the person who alighted
from the vehicle and entered the restaurant was the same as seen in the video
footage as being the African male that was later identified as Lindokuhle
Mhaliseni Ndimande. She pointed out that the tracking report on the grey Polo
placed the vehicle in the vicinity of Hilton Hotel and later at the WISH
Restaurant. According to the DPP, sometime later, a white Mercedes-Benz C200 was
also spotted passing the restaurant.
Restaurant
She stated that after the Mercedes-Benz passed the restaurant, it came to a
stationary position approximately 100 metres from the restaurant.  “At
approximately 10:10pm, the first deceased (Forbes) and his entourage,
accompanied by the second deceased (Motsoane), exit the restaurant through a
passageway leading onto the pavement of Florida Road. The first deceased is seen
on video talking to the second deceased and hugging him. A suspect wearing a cap
is seen crossing Florida Road and approaching the first deceased from behind,”
submitted Harrison. She mentioned that at the same time, another suspect,
wearing dark clothing and a cap, is also seen crossing over Florida Road and
positioning himself between the two vehicles. Harrison said the first suspect
(Siyabonga) was further observed armed with a firearm approaching Forbes and
shooting him in the head.
She alleged that the second suspect (Lindokuhle) maintained his position and
simultaneously fired shots in the direction of both the deceased (Forbes and
Motsoane).  The DPP said Forbes fell to the ground and Motsoane ran into the
passageway and fell. “Both suspects are observed fleeing the scene, by
crossing Florida Road and towards the direction of the white Mercedes-Benz. The
suspects jumped into the Mercedes-Benz and left at a high speed,” submitted
Harrison. She stated that investigations were immediately conducted at the scene
after the murder of Forbes and Motsoane, and it was established that they died
at the scene. “Two spent 9mm nickel cartridges were found close to the body of
the first deceased. Four spent 9mm cartridges cases were found in the vicinity
of where the second suspect had positioned himself. Video footage from inside
and outside the restaurant was secured. Postmorterms were conducted on both the
deceased and the cause of death was consistent with gunshots wounds,” she
argued.
Investigating
The DPP stated that the investigating officer traced the Mercedes-Benz and was
informed that it was used in the commission of a murder and attempted murder and
was recovered near Cato Crest informal settlement. She mentioned that, it was
believed that the Mercedes-Benz was the same vehicle that was used as a gateway
vehicle in the commission of the murders of Forbes and Motsoane outside WISH
Restaurant in Florida Road. She said this was determined by the investigations
conducted by the investigating officer. “Upon investigations carried out at
the scene where the Mercedes-Benz was abandoned, it was established that there
had been attempts to set the vehicle on fire by one of the suspects.”
submitted the DPP. He alleged that, one of the suspects also purchased airtime
from a tuck shop situated a few metres away from where the vehicle was
abandoned. Harrison went on to state that, investigations revealed that
Siphamandla Ngcobo was identified as the person who recharged his phone with the
airtime purchased from the tuck shop.  She said Siphamandla was arrested on
March 29, 2023 and charged with robbery, with aggravating circumstances.
Records
“Cellular phone records were obtained for Siphamandla Ngcobo and compared with
cellular phone records at the scene of the murders on the night in question. It
was established that Ngcobo had communicated with Gwabeni, Lindani Zenzele
Ndimande. Lindani’s cellular phone records were obtained and he was also
placed in the vicinity of the Florida Road where the murders had taken place,”
the DPP argued. She brought it to the court’s attention that at the time of
committing the offence, the suspects were residing at Flat 604; Cappella Flats
in Malusi, South Beach, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. She informed the court that the
accused were suspects in two charges of murder and warrants of their arrests in
both matters were authorised by a magistrate in the District of eThekwini.  The
DPP brought it to the court’s attention that the basis of the authorisation of
the warrants of arrest was that the whereabouts of the duo was unknown and they
were traced to the Kingdom of Eswatini.  The suspects are expected to again
appear at the Manzini Magistrates Court on Tuesday.  The Crown was represented
by Principal Crown Counsel Macebo Nxumalo while for the suspects is Sive
Ngwenya.