AKA and Tibz Murder Trial Gets Underway 3.5 Years After Their Assassinations
- The long-awaited trial into the murders of rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and chef Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane finally began in the Durban High Court
- Seven accused face charges including conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, attempted murder, and firearms and ammunition offences
- The families of both victims are expected to be in court, with Tibz's father Sylvester saying he would only attend once the matter reached trial
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Source: Instagram
More than three years after rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes and his close friend Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane were publicly assassinated, the men accused of carrying out the killings have finally taken their places in the Durban High Court. The trial getting underway marks the end of a long and winding legal road for both families, and brings long-awaited accountability closer into view.
Seven accused face a serious slate of charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, attempted murder, as well as various firearms and ammunition offences.
A long road to the courtroom
The journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. Arrests were made throughout 2023, though police only made a formal announcement in 2024. Both firearms used in the killings were recovered shortly after the murders. Five of the accused, still in South Africa at the time, applied for bail but were unsuccessful after roughly two and a half months.
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The remaining two accused, the Indemande brothers, had been in Eswatini and a separate legal process was required to bring them back to South Africa. That process was only completed towards the end of 2025. The five South Africa-based accused received their indictments in 2025, while the Indemande brothers were served with theirs early in 2026. After multiple attempts, the pretrial conference was concluded during 2026, clearing the path for the trial to begin.
Watch the Instagram video below:
Families prepare to face the court
Both families are expected to be present as proceedings get underway. AKA's father Tony and mother Lynn have previously attended court appearances. Tibz's father, Sylvester Motsoane, has not been to court before now, having told reporters shortly after his son's death that he would hold back until the matter actually went to trial.
Speaking to eNCA's Dasen Thathiah outside court, the emotional weight of the moment was palpable. The families have requested privacy but have publicly acknowledged the efforts of the police, prosecuting teams, and other parties who kept the case alive and moving towards this point.
The eNCA report, filed on 5 October from Durban, captured the gravity of the occasion, noting that for those who loved Forbes and Motsoane, this trial represents both a long time coming and an emotional milestone.
Aka and Neli Tembe’s final video together
New unseen footage of Anele Tembe's final moments surfaced at the Pepperclub Hotel, reigniting debate surrounding her 2021 death.
Some X users rallied behind the late rapper, arguing he allegedly never showed a pattern of abuse with any of his former partners.
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Source: Briefly News
