Two men accused of the brutal murder of South African rapper AKA, whose real name was Kiernan Forbes, and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, have successfully appealed their extradition from Eswatini.
The appeal, filed on Tuesday, temporarily halts their transfer to South Africa.
According to SowetanLive, brothers Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande, raised security concerns as their primary reason for the appeal.
The brothers were arrested in Mbabane in March 2024, months after a widespread manhunt linked them to the high-profile killings.
The murders of AKA and Chef Tibz shocked the nation. Both men were gunned down in a brazen attack on February 10, 2023, outside a popular restaurant on Durban’s Florida Road.
Their deaths sparked outrage and led to intense investigations, eventually resulting in the arrests of the Ndimande brothers and five other suspects.
The other accused – Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Ndimande – have already appeared in the Durban High Court.
Gwabeni, labelled the alleged mastermind, was reportedly paid R800,000 to carry out the assassination, though he has denied this claim.
AKA, a legendary figure in South African hip-hop, skyrocketed to fame with his hit single Victory Lap in 2010.
Over the years, he amassed numerous awards and was frequently in the spotlight for his music and personal life.
At the time of his death, AKA was in a relationship with rapper and TV personality Nadia Nakai and was a devoted father to his young daughter, Kairo who he shares with DJ Zinhle.
Words: Fame Frenzy