Latest news with #LindokuhleMkhwanazi
IOL News
24-07-2025
- IOL News
Durban High Court gears up for the 2026 murder trial of rapper AKA
Murder accused men Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande Image: Nomonde Zondi The murder pre-trial conference of slain South African rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes and his friend Tebello 'Tibz' Mostoane is approaching its end. This as the State and defence have agreed on certain aspects. The Durban High Court on Thursday learnt that only minor issues need to be sorted out before the KwaZulu-Natal Judge President approves trial dates for 2026. Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande are charged with the murders of Forbes and Motsoane, who were gunned down in Durban on Florida Road in February 2023. The two friends were killed outside Wish restaurant, where they had their last supper. The Wish restaurant has since closed down. The state senior prosecutor, Elvis Gcweka, told the court that the Section 220 admissions have been made by the accused. Section 220 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 allows for formal admissions by the accused, which constitute sufficient proof of such facts and mean that the State does not have to prove these facts in the trial. However, the big-shot Durban senior counsel advocate, Jimmy Howse, said in respect of his client Lindani, there were admissions that they had a problem with. Howse has just been recently instructed in this matter. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading In the past, he has represented controversial Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize. He is also representing the former eThekwini deputy head of Supply Chain Management, Sandile Ngcobo, in a Durban Solid Waste corruption case involving Zandile Gumede, a former mayor of eThekwini. Attorney Sibusiso Dlamini, who is instructing all the counsels in this matter, also told the court that in respect of Mkhwanazi and Lindokuhle Ndimande, there was an admission that they had a problem with. Dlamini further stated that advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, who is the counsel for Mkhwanazi and Lindokuhle Ndimande, was in another matter as he was not present. At some stage, the matter had to stand down as Judge Jacqueline Henriques said the State and defence must get their house in order regarding this. When the matter was called again, Gcweka said the evidence that the state would lead in the trial is bank statements, motor vehicle car trackers, ballistics, CCTV, and witness statements. He added that the State would lead with 45 witnesses, with additional witnesses. However, Howse said he wanted the State to provide the defence with the witness statements of the additional witnesses that were not named by the State. 'It's always an ambush at trial,' he added. 'The trial would be heard over two sessions, one in July and the other in October,' Gcweka told the court. However, he stated that the dates had not been approved by Judge President Thoba Poyo-Dlwati. Judge Henriques said she was not going to certify the matter trial-ready as the defence and State need to get their house in order and get the court dates certified by Judge President Poyo-Dlwati. The matter was postponed to August 13.
IOL News
08-05-2025
- IOL News
Advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa to represent five accused in AKA's murder case
From left Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande at the Durban High Court for their first appearance Image: Nomonde Zondi The former acting director of public prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, Advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, will now be the one representing all five men accused of killing South African rapper Kiernan AKA Forbes and his friend, chef Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane. Advocate Lawrence Gcaba, the KZN deputy director of public prosecutions, revealed this on Thursday at the Durban High Court. Forbes and Motsoane were shot and killed outside Wish restaurant in Durban on Florida Road on February 10, 2023. Slain South African award-winning rapper, AKA Image: Instagram/akaworldwide The five accused, Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, made a brief appearance in this court. They are charged with two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, five counts of attempted murder, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Gcaba told the court that attorney Sibusiso Dlamini would be the one representing the accused. 'Advocate Mlotshwa would be instructed by Mr Dlamini,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Former acting NPA head in KwaZulu-Natal Advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa. Picture: Jacques Naude/African News Agency (ANA) Image: Jacques Naude/African News Agency (ANA) Moreover, he said they agreed that this matter be postponed to June 12 for a pre-trial conference, while Mlotshwa goes to eSwatini for the extradition appeal of the two other accused on this matter, Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande and Malusi Dave Ndimande. Presiding officer Judge Jacqueline Henriques postponed the matter to June 12. Previously, Mlotshwa represented Mkhwanazi and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, while Myeza was represented by attorney Yolanda Gielink; Gwabeni and Lindani were represented by advocate Joe Wolmarans. The State is alleging that Gwabs Mining, owned by Gwabeni, received R803 455 from a company called Bright Circle, where Mfunda Gcaba is a sole director with reference services of consult, when in fact it had been for AKA's murder. Chef Tibz Image: Instagram The money was received a day after the murder. According to the cellphone records, it is alleged that Gwabeni made a phone call to a number linked to Mfunda before the money was deposited. The State said that Gwabeni transferred over R100 000 into the bank accounts of his co-accused. Furthermore, it said Gwabeni followed AKA and his entourage from the airport until he arrived at a hotel in Mhlanga. When Gwabeni applied for bail on new facts, Adv Gcaba said they had received the footage from the airport, which clearly shows Gwabeni following the wrapper while he was on the phone. Additionally, the State alleges that Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande was at Wish Restaurant whilst AKA was there and chose a spot where the rapper and his company would be in his sight. The State said he was busy on his phone while eating and looking at AKA's direction, and when the shooting occurred, he remained inside and was not shaken like the others were.
