MBABANE – In a sudden turn of events at the Durban Magistrates Court on April 10, 2026, brothers Malusi Dave Ndimande and Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande, who were extradited from Eswatini, officially abandoned their bid for freedom.
The duo are key figures in the high-profile murder investigation of celebrated rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and his close friend, Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane.
The Friday morning proceedings saw a notable shift in the brothers’ legal representation. While Sibusiso Dlamini remains the instructing attorney and Simphiwe Mlotshwa continues as their advocate, a new face has joined the ranks. Advocate Bonga Zulu was seen checking on the siblings in the dock, signaling a tightening of the defence team as the case prepares to transition to the High Court.
Dlamini addressed the court briefly to pivot from their previous stance, stating that while the accused had originally intended to apply for bail, he had received fresh instructions to abandon the application entirely. Magistrate Ashwin Singh confirmed the decision directly with the brothers before granting the State’s request for a postponement.
Their road from Eswatini to this moment has been long and legally fraught. Following the brutal assassination of AKA and Tibz on Florida Road in February 2023, the Ndimande brothers fled to neighbouring Eswatini. Their time in the kingdom was marked by a tense, year-long legal battle against extradition.
While hiding out in a rented flat in Mbabane, the brothers claimed they feared for their lives, alleging that South African police were ‘trigger-happy’ and that they would not receive a fair trial. During the 2024 proceedings in the Manzini Magistrates Court, Eswatini prosecutors argued successfully that the brothers were flight risks with no legitimate reason to remain in the country other than to evade justice. Their eventual return to South Africa in 2025 marked a significant breakthrough for the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Senior State prosecutor Elvis Gcweka requested that the matter be postponed to April 17, 2026. This delay is intended to allow the State to serve the brothers with formal indictments, which will effectively merge their case with those of their five co-accused:
Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi
Lindani Zenzele Ndimande
Siyanda Eddie Myeza
Mziwethemba Gwabeni
Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande
The consolidation of these cases means all seven suspects will eventually stand trial together in the Durban High Court. This move is expected to streamline the presentation of evidence regarding the alleged ‘hit’, which investigators believe was a coordinated assassination involving spotters, shooters, and a mastermind who coordinated the logistics.
For now, Malusi and Siyabonga Ndimande remain in custody. With bail no longer on the table, the focus shifts entirely to the upcoming High Court appearance, where the full weight of the State’s evidence will finally be tested.
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