The Correctional Services Department has moved the seven men charged with killing rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and his friend Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane from Westville Prison to Ebongweni Super Maximum Correctional Centre in Kokstad. 

This was revealed during the third appearance of the two Ndimande brothers, Siyabonga Gezani and Malusi Dave, at the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The brothers were extradited back to South Africa from Eswatini on November 25, 2025.

Their five co-accused — Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande — have already been indicted to the Durban High Court. All seven men are charged with the murders of Forbes and Motsoane, who were killed on February 10, 2023, on Florida Road in Durban.

Advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, representing the brothers, informed the court that the defence discovered the transfer to Ebongweni Correctional Centre on January 2, 2025, when they attempted to consult with their clients. 

“We are waiting for an email reply from Correctional Services to establish what has happened and see if they can relocate them back to Westville Prison so we can consult. We understand that there is a reply but it has not reached our hands,” he explained. 

He also indicated that the State had provided the information they requested on the last occasion regarding the extradition of the Ndimande brothers, however, said there was still outstanding information.

Mlotshwa requested a postponement of the matter to February 20 to allow for all processes to unfold, enabling an informed decision.

Additionally, he said it was difficult to consult at the super maximum prison as there is a 30-minute consultation limitation. 

Senior State prosecutor Advocate Elvis Gcweka confirmed that all seven accused have been moved to Ebongweni, however, he stated that they do not know why they were moved. 

“At this stage, we don’t have the full information as to why the accused were moved. Which is why we sat down with the defence and we set a provisionally postponement date so that in between, we get to understand what transpired,” Gcweka explained. 

Inside information indicates that the seven were moved from Westville Prison to Ebongweni in December last year. 

Gcweka, who is prosecuting the matter with Advocate Lawrence Gcaba, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, also requested postponements for other cases where the Ndimande brothers face murder charges for the same reasons.

In a separate case dating back to 2022, the brothers face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and two counts of unlawful possession of automatic firearms.

In another case, Siyabonga Gezani is charged with murder, attempted murder, malicious damage to property, reckless driving, failure to render assistance after a collision, unlawful possession of automatic firearms, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Magistrate Irfaan Khalil postponed all cases to March 4.

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za

Source link