DURBAN, South Africa — 5 October 2026. The families of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane returned to the Durban High Court on Monday for the scheduled start of the murder trial involving seven accused, more than three years after the men were killed.
Tony Forbes, AKA's father, and Sylvester Motsoane, Tibz's father, were photographed embracing outside the court. Eyewitness News reported their arrival and comments, as both families expressed hope that the proceedings would bring accountability.
What is the latest in the AKA and Tibz murder case? The families attended Durban High Court on 5 October 2026 for the scheduled trial of seven accused. The charges include murder, conspiracy and firearm offences. The published trial schedule runs to 6 November; the accused have not been convicted.
Fathers speak about the long wait
Tony Forbes said he felt the investigation had reached a point where the case could move forward. He also described anxiety about what he would see and hear during the proceedings.
“I am anxious about what I’m going to see and what I’m going to hear,” he told Eyewitness News.
His comments combined relief at reaching the trial stage with the difficulty of hearing evidence about his son's death. His hope for accountability was a family response, rather than a statement about what the court would ultimately decide.
Sylvester Motsoane also welcomed the prospect of the case going to trial. He spoke about accepting the loss of his son and said he felt able to face the proceedings.
East Coast Radio's court report described the fathers greeting one another outside the court and reported that AKA's mother, Lynn Forbes, was also present.
The latest appearance follows earlier hearings attended by the family. XTRAfrica previously covered Tony Forbes's response to seeing the accused in court.
JUSTICE & CRIME
AKA and Tibz Families Return to Durban Court for a Long-Delayed Trial
Oct 5, 2026
Oct 5, 2026
5 min read
Published
Updated:
DURBAN, South Africa — 5 October 2026. The families of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane returned to the Durban High Court on Monday for the scheduled start of the murder trial involving seven accused, more than three years after the men were killed.
Tony Forbes, AKA's father, and Sylvester Motsoane, Tibz's father, were photographed embracing outside the court. Eyewitness News reported their arrival and comments, as both families expressed hope that the proceedings would bring accountability.
What is the latest in the AKA and Tibz murder case? The families attended Durban High Court on 5 October 2026 for the scheduled trial of seven accused. The charges include murder, conspiracy and firearm offences. The published trial schedule runs to 6 November; the accused have not been convicted.
Fathers speak about the long wait
Tony Forbes said he felt the investigation had reached a point where the case could move forward. He also described anxiety about what he would see and hear during the proceedings.
“I am anxious about what I’m going to see and what I’m going to hear,” he told Eyewitness News.
His comments combined relief at reaching the trial stage with the difficulty of hearing evidence about his son's death. His hope for accountability was a family response, rather than a statement about what the court would ultimately decide.
Sylvester Motsoane also welcomed the prospect of the case going to trial. He spoke about accepting the loss of his son and said he felt able to face the proceedings.
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East Coast Radio's court report described the fathers greeting one another outside the court and reported that AKA's mother, Lynn Forbes, was also present.
The latest appearance follows earlier hearings attended by the family. XTRAfrica previously covered Tony Forbes's response to seeing the accused in court.
Seven accused face murder and related charges
The National Prosecuting Authority's case statement identifies seven accused:
Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi
Lindani Zenzele Ndimande
Siyanda Eddie Myeza
Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni
Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande
Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande
Malusi Dave Ndimande
The NPA lists conspiracy to commit murder, two murder counts, multiple attempted-murder counts, and firearm and ammunition offences.
Those charges set out the prosecution's allegations. They do not establish that any accused committed an offence. The South African's Monday report states that the accused have not been convicted.
The distinction remains central as the case proceeds: identifying the people before the court and explaining the allegations is different from deciding responsibility for the killings.
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From the Florida Road shooting to the trial date
Forbes and Motsoane were shot and killed outside a restaurant on Durban's Florida Road on 10 February 2023, according to the NPA.
The investigation subsequently extended beyond South Africa. Brothers Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande were extradited from Eswatini and joined the other accused in the Durban proceedings.
SABC's Monday coverage reports that arrests were announced a year after the killings and describes the extradition proceedings as lengthy.
XTRAfrica's earlier reporting on the arrests in the AKA and Tibz case covered that investigative stage. The current court appearance concerns the later trial process.
The case has also passed through pre-trial proceedings. The NPA's published schedule set the trial period from 5 October to 6 November 2026, with additional dates to be discussed between the prosecution and defence.
The schedule provides a period for proceedings. It is not a promise that the entire case will finish, or that a verdict will be delivered, on 6 November.
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Court-day reports do not amount to a verdict
Monday's reporting used different descriptions of the opening stage. The South African reported that the trial had started, while SABC's early-morning article described it as expected to start. EWN's preview also used prospective wording.
The family attendance and comments are the immediate development. The trial timetable and charges provide the official framework for what follows.
For the families, the court process offers the prospect of hearing the case against the accused after years of investigation and preparation. Their statements describe both a wish for accountability and the personal strain of returning to court.
The next substantive developments will be the evidence presented, any responses from the defence and the court's decisions. The outcome remains for the court to determine.
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