Ndimande Brothers Drop Bail Bid in AKA Murder Case

The legal proceedings surrounding the 2023 assassination of award-winning South African rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his close friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane took a sharp turn on Friday, as two key suspects unexpectedly withdrew their request for release on bail.

Malusi and Siyabonga Ndimande, brothers who were extradited from Eswatini late last year, had previously signalled their intention to fight for their freedom while awaiting trial. However, during a brief hearing at the Durban Magistrate’s Court, their legal representative informed the court that the brothers had chosen to abandon the application entirely.

The decision means that all seven individuals now linked to the double murder will remain in state custody. The other five co-accused had already been denied bail in earlier hearings. The brothers, who are being held at the high-security eBongweni Correctional Centre in Kokstad, offered no public explanation for the sudden change in legal strategy.

Case Moves to Higher Court

Prosecutors confirmed that the matter will be transferred to the Durban High Court after a final procedural hearing scheduled for next week. The state intends to serve formal indictment papers on the Ndimande brothers on April 17, effectively merging their case with that of their co-accused.

Legal analysts note that a joint trial for all seven suspects will allow the prosecution to present a consolidated narrative. The state has previously indicated that it possesses a significant body of digital and physical evidence, including financial records, vehicle tracking data, and surveillance footage from the night of the shooting.

Timeline of the Assassination and Arrests

The two brothers fled South Africa for the neighbouring kingdom of Eswatini shortly after the February 2023 shooting on Florida Road, a popular dining and nightlife strip in Durban. Their time as fugitives lasted nearly two years, marked by a protracted legal fight against extradition. During that period, they argued that returning to South Africa would endanger their lives, but Eswatini courts ultimately ruled in favour of handing them over to South African authorities.

They were finally returned to the country in November 2025, arriving under heavy police escort. Their arrest followed the earlier detention of five other suspects, including individuals accused of planning and financing the hit.

What Happened on Florida Road

AKA and Motsoane were gunned down outside a restaurant on the evening of February 10, 2023. The rapper, one of South Africa’s most successful musical exports, was preparing to perform at a local nightclub when two assailants approached on foot and opened fire at close range. Both men died at the scene. The attack also injured several bystanders, leading to additional attempted murder charges against the accused.

Upcoming Trial Schedule

The high court trial is expected to begin in July 2026 and will be split into two sessions running through August and again in October and November. The prosecution has lined up dozens of witnesses, including forensic experts and individuals who reportedly facilitated financial transactions linked to the alleged hit.

A pre-trial conference is set for June to finalise the selection of a presiding judge and address any remaining legal arguments before the main trial commences.

Financial Motive Alleged

Investigators have long suggested that the murders were premeditated and financially motivated. Court documents filed earlier in the case allege that a sum of roughly 800,000 rand changed hands among the accused shortly after the shootings. While one of the suspects has claimed that the money was payment for legitimate security work, the state maintains it was the proceeds of a contract killing.

For now, with the Ndimande brothers joining their co-accused in abandoning any immediate hope of bail, all seven suspects will remain behind bars as South Africa waits for what promises to be one of the country’s most closely watched murder trials in recent memory.

The case returns to court on April 17 for the formal transfer to the high court.