AKA Murder Trial Adjourned Until April As Seven Defendants Remain In Custody

AKA‘s murder trial was adjourned until April 2027 on Thursday, November 5, leaving all seven defendants in custody after weeks of testimony about the shooting and the money that moved afterward.

The Durban High Court will resume hearing the state’s case from April 12 through May 14, TimesLIVE reported.

The current trial session had been set to run through November 6.

The seven men pleaded not guilty when the trial opened on October 5. They face charges that include conspiracy to commit murder, two murders, attempted murder and firearm and ammunition offenses.

AKA, whose real name was Kiernan Forbes, and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane were killed outside Wish restaurant on Durban’s Florida Road on February 10, 2023.

KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said, “It has seen the state lead evidence from more than 20 witnesses.”

She said the evidence included “video footage, vehicle-tracking data, ballistic evidence and financial evidence.”

Bank records became a focus during the final week of this session, including a payment of more than R800,000 to defendant Mziwethemba Gwabeni.

Witnesses from FNB and Capitec described transfers involving Gwabeni and other accused men a day after the killings.

TimesLIVE reported that payment references included “dividends,” “taxi loan,” “car repair” and “six-months salary.” During cross-examination, the defense questioned mistakes in Capitec records, including account-opening dates. A bank witness acknowledged the errors.

The payments have been disputed since the bail hearings. Gwabeni said the money he received was payment for consultancy work.

The family of Durban taxi businessman Mfundo Gcaba also denied that its business dealings with him were connected to the killings.

In an affidavit read by his lawyer in 2024, Gwabeni called the allegations “defamatory against myself and more importantly for Mfundo Gcaba,” EWN reported.

He argued that the payment was legitimate.

The financial testimony followed evidence about two rental cars. Cartrack fleet administrator Carel Rothmann presented records for a gray Volkswagen Polo and a Hyundai Grand i10.

The vehicles traveled through the same areas before splitting up on the night of the killings. The Polo was later tracked toward Florida Road.

Defense lawyers sought time to study those records and consult an expert before challenging the tracking evidence, Mail & Guardian reported.

Earlier in the trial, a police witness identified Lindokuhle Ndimande in restaurant security footage. Ndimande previously denied acting as a lookout, saying he had been waiting for a date.

Prosecutors are due to present further evidence when the trial resumes in April.