AKA Murder Trial: Don Design Takes the Stand to Recount Rapper’s Final Moments
- AKA's tour DJ Tshediso "Don Design" Mokoko took the witness stand as the ninth witness in the murder trial
- Mokoko described the events leading up to the fatal shooting at Wish Restaurant in Durban, including AKA stopping for a haircut beforehand
- The DJ revealed how close he came to being caught in the gunfire that killed AKA and Tibz in February 2023
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Source: Instagram
AKA's longtime tour DJ and close friend, Tshediso "Don Design" Mokoko, narrowly escaped the night that claimed the rapper's life, and he's now recounting every chilling detail on the stand. Testifying virtually as the ninth witness in the AKA and Tibz murder trial on Tuesday afternoon, 13 October 2026, Mokoko painted a vivid picture of what the hours before the fatal shooting looked like.
The DJ was part of AKA's entourage at Wish Restaurant in Durban in February 2023 when the rapper, born Kiernan Forbes, and his friend Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane were both killed.
Seven men are currently facing trial at the Durban High Court for the murders, with each accused also facing five counts of attempted murder related to others who were with Forbes and Motsoane that night.
AKA's final hours before the shooting
Mokoko told the court that the group's evening began with something as routine as a trip to a nearby salon.
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"AKA voiced that he wanted to get a haircut, and the salon happened to be in the same vicinity as the restaurant. He proceeded to go get his hair cut, and shortly after that, we went to have something to eat," he said.
After the meal and drinks, the group was preparing to leave for an event where AKA was booked to perform. Mokoko explained that a promoter, who is also a DJ, had asked them to arrive before midnight.
"He was supposed to DJ; he was performing at 12 pm and asked us to arrive shortly before that so we could watch him play. We were going to jump on right after him."
Source: Instagram
"It was most likely I would have been hit"
When the shots rang out, Mokoko said his first instinct was that it was fireworks.
"I heard loud bangs of things that sounded like crickets (fireworks), and I saw people crouching and screaming, and I also did the same and ran back to the establishment."
State Prosecutor Elvis Gcweka then pressed Mokoko on whether he believed he could have been struck by a stray bullet had he been standing closer to AKA. Mokoko did not hesitate.
"Because of the distance between me, Tibz and Kiernan, I think it was most likely I would have been hit if I was anywhere closer than where I was," he said.
The DJ was heavily accused by social media users following AKA's murder, but the allegations were completely unfounded and officially dismissed.
Following the release of CCTV footage showing the moments leading up to AKA's assassination, social media users analysed Don Design's body language. Online "detectives" claimed he appeared suspicious or looked as if he was "signalling" the hitmen.
The trial continues at the Durban High Court.
Watch Tshediso Mokoko's testimony below.
Police clash with defence lawyer in AKA trial
In an earlier report, Briefly News shared insight into a tense court session that saw the police clashing with the defence during AKA's murder trial.
The suspect accused of supplying firearms used to kill AKA and Tibz challenged a police officer's testimony, with his defence arguing that the firearm could not have been found on his person.
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Source: Briefly News
