AKA and Tibz murder trial delayed after Durban court lifts malfunction - IOL

The long-awaited  trial of seven men accused of murdering rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane was briefly delayed after prisoners’ lift at the Durban High Court malfunctioned and two accused arrived late.

The long-awaited  trial of seven men accused of murdering rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane was briefly delayed after prisoners’ lift at the Durban High Court malfunctioned and two accused arrived late.

The matter was scheduled to start at 10am, but was stood down after senior State advocate Elvis Gcweka told the court that the defence had informed him that the lifts were not working.

When the matter was called again a few minutes later, five of the accused — Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Mkhwanazi — appeared before the court.

Gcweka told the court that the remaining two accused, brothers Malusi Dave and Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande, were being transported from Westville Prison and were on their way to court.

The matter was stood down again to allow the brothers to arrive.

The malfunctioning lifts at the Durban court, which houses both the Magistrates’ Court and High Court, have been an ongoing problem. As recently as Friday, lifts used by members of the public and court staff were also reportedly out of order.

Once the trial gets under way, the court is expected to hear submissions from the defence and State on an application by the media to broadcast the proceedings.

The court is also expected to hear an application for a separation of trials brought last week by Mkhwanazi.

Meanwhile, the parents of both slain men were seated in the courtroom awaiting the start of the trial.

AKA’s father, Tony Forbes, said he was ready for the trial but anxious about what he would hear as the State begins presenting its evidence.

“I am satisfied that the work has been done and that we are now moving forward,” he said.

Forbes said he was also pleased with the prosecution team, led by KwaZulu-Natal Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Lawrence Gcaba, who is working alongside Gcweka.

“I’m really confident of the work that has been done to get us to this point,” he said.

Tibz’s father, Sylvester Motsoane, said he was feeling relaxed ahead of the trial and had accepted that he lost both his son and his mother in the same year.

However, Motsoane said he had gone for a long period without receiving updates from police about the investigation into his son’s death.

He said it was only after he gave an interview to a broadcaster that he began receiving updates.

“I did not have any communication with whoever was in charge for the investigation of the death of my son,” he said.