DURBAN - The trial into the murders of Kiernan Jarryd Forbes (AKA) and Tebello Motsoane (Tibz) is set to get under way at the Durban High Court on Monday.
The case is more than three years in the making after the pair were shot outside a restaurant on Florida Road in Durban.
AKA had been on his way to a performance when he bumped into Motsoane outside the restaurant. Forbes was the apparent target, while Motsoane was caught in the crossfire.
READ: AKA and Tibz | KZN Police Commissioner says AKA was the target
In the aftermath of Forbes’ death, speculation was rife that Anele Tembe’s family had a hand in his murder. Tembe died in 2021 after falling from the 10th floor of a hotel in Cape Town.
The family denied any wrongdoing, saying they would never be involved in any act of this nature.
Seven people -- Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, Lindokuhle Ndimande, Siyabonga Mdimande and Malusi Ndimande -- face charges including two counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of illegal firearms and possession of unlawful ammunition.
Brothers Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande were extradited from eSwatini last year.
WATCH: Six suspects arrested in connection with AKA, Tibz killings
How we got here:
In August 2023, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said police had identified some suspects. Some of the suspects were said to be in jail for other crimes.
The following month, then Police Minister Bheki Cele confirmed that a person of interest had been identified. A car and a firearm had been seized as part of the investigation.
After a more than year-long search, the Ndimande brothers were arrested in eSwatini on Friday, 23 February 2024, after allegedly hiding in the kingdom for six months. They were found with four cellphones in their possession.
Four days later, police announced that a total of six people had been arrested, including the brothers. Mkhwanazi also confirmed that Forbes had been the target, while Motsoane’s death was coincidental.
Forbes had allegedly been followed from King Shaka International Airport. Stalkers kept a close eye on him, while spotters were allegedly able to locate him at the restaurant.
Shortly afterwards, a seventh person was added to the list of accused and arrested in connection with the murders.
Five of the seven accused appeared at the Durban Magistrate’s Court, where they fought for bail, while South Africa continued its efforts to extradite the Ndimande brothers from eSwatini.
On 6 March 2024, two money-laundering charges were added to the case. The accused collectively faced 19 charges.
Towards the end of March 2024, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development approved and transmitted an extradition request to eSwatini.
In May 2024, the five suspects were denied bail. Meanwhile, in August 2024, an eSwatini court granted the extradition of the Ndimande brothers. In November, they were granted leave to appeal their extradition.
Earlier that same month, Mkhwanazi said police wanted to identify the masterminds behind Forbes’ murder, adding that the puzzle was coming together.
In February 2025, it was announced that the trial for the five suspects was due to begin on 8 May 2025 at the Durban High Court. The pre-trial hearings were held in June and the matter was later postponed to 19 June 2026.
READ: AKA timeline | What you need to know from 2023 shooting until now
The trial was stalled by the Ndimande brothers’ continued presence in eSwatini. After withdrawing their appeal in October 2025, the brothers were expected to return to South Africa.
They landed in South Africa on 11 November 2025 and appeared at the Durban Magistrate’s Court. In April 2026, they abandoned their bail bid.
In August 2026, it was confirmed that the trial would proceed from October 2026, with hopes that the case could be finalised by 2028.