Accused number four in the murder of Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, continued his bail application today.
Also read: Court adds money laundering to long list of charges in AKA murder case
Mziwethemba Gwabeni continued his bail application today after it hit a snag on Monday as the state awaited emails and documents. The state alleged that Gwabeni, thought to be the mastermind behind the deaths, received R800 000 before he shared the money with the other suspects, The Citizen reported.
State advocate, Lawrence Gcaba, was surprised to discover his emails formed part of Gwabeni’s bail application.
‘There was no need for myself, as the person who was gathering that email, to include any of my colleagues in that email. If the exchange is between ourselves and I find my emails in accused number four’s papers, whereas he was not part of that conversation, it is concerning,’ said Gcaba.
Gwabeni also said the R800 000 he received was from a reputable company with which he had previously done business.
[WATCH] Accused 4 in the AKA and Tibz murder case Mziwethemba Gwabeni says the R800 000 that was paid into his account was from a reputable company – for business. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/iZWXrd3fXm
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 19, 2024
Also read: AKA’s killers were allegedly paid R800 000 for his murder
One of the other accused, Lindokuhle Ndimande, said he is not a flight risk and, according to his lawyer, Simphiwe Mlotshwa, Ndimane handed himself over to the police in February this year, SABC News reported.
‘On 27 February 2024, while away visiting my girlfriend, I received a call from my biological mother in Camperdown. She informed me that there were police at home looking for me. She then handed a cellular phone to the person who told me that he was a police officer and that I must hand myself over,’ Ndimane said.
‘He further stated that in the event I failed to hand myself over, he had already shown my mother where my grave would be next to the cattle kraal, as he and another police officer were even prepared to shoot me,’ he added.
The bail hearing for the five accused has now been postponed to 27 March.
The bail hearing of five of the seven men accused of the murders of rapper AKA and chef Tebello Motsoane has been postponed to March 27. Today, accused 4 Mziwethemba Gwabeni made his case for bail. Gwabeni is allegedly the plotter of the murders. @nobuhlemodise has more. pic.twitter.com/3E6gmaMbGp
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 19, 2024
Meanwhile, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services (JCS) Ronald Lamola has approved and transmitted a request for the extradition of the two suspects accused in the murder of AKA and Tibz.
The two brothers – Siyabonga ‘Nxele’ Ndimande and Malusi ‘Mjay’ Ndimande – were arrested by Royal eSwatini police and the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) on 24 February 2024 at a rented flat in eSwatini.
Media Statement on South Africa’s Extradition Request to the Kingdom of Eswatini. pic.twitter.com/na7EfeVWYf
— Chrispin Phiri 🇿🇦🇵🇸 (@Chrispin_JPhiri) March 19, 2024
South African authorities want the brothers to be extradited to South Africa to join the other five suspects who are currently on trial.
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Picture: @Am_Blujay / X