With the murder trial of acclaimed rapper Kiernan “AKA”Forbes set for May 8 in the Durban High Court, the attention has now shifted to the safety of key witnesses in the matter.
It emerged during the recent court appearance in the Durban Magistrates’ Court of the five men standing trial for orchestrating the hit on Forbes that there were fears over attempts to eliminate the state witnesses lined up to testify.
It was also revealed that Muziwethemba Gwabeni, 36, considered the mastermind of the assassination, had been found with affidavits of some witnesses.
But prosecutor Elvis Gcweka told Sunday World at the time that since the defence legal team had not been furnished with the list of witnesses, there had not been any urgency from the side of the state to place them under state protection.
“For now there is no cause for panic because we have not shared the witnesses with the defence team,” said Gcweka.
Elaine Harrison, the director of public prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, said the matter of witness protection was too sensitive for public scrutiny.
“Due to security reasons, this office will not provide information on such a sensitive issue,” she told Sunday World.
It was revealed in court that several of the accused were in the taxi business. They are
also alleged to double as “trusted” hitmen who don’t hesitate to eliminate perceived competition.
Apart from the murders of Forbes and his friend, they have several murder charges
hanging over their heads for separate matters.
Monday marked exactly two years since the All Eyes On Me hitmaker was cornered and shot dead at the now-defunct Wish Restaurant in Durban’s Florida Road on February 10, 2023. The location in the suburb of Morningside is known for its vibrant nightlife and being an entertainment hub.
Forbes was shot in the head from behind, execution style, and died instantly. His friend and celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane was also shot dead.
However, police say Motsoane was just at the wrong place at the wrong time; the intended target was Forbes.
The state’s case hinges on the key evidence collected by South African Police Service investigators. These include ballistics tests, CCTV footage taken at the King Shaka International Airport, and the payment at a tollgate about 3km away from the airport.
The evidence include, among others, Hilton Hotel footage, where Forbes and his entourage had booked in. The evidence puts Gwabeni as the mastermind of the hit. According to the state, he had been lying in wait at the airport for Forbes to arrive.
He then tailed him all the way to the posh suburb of uMhlanga. Cellphone records also point to Gwabeni making incessant calls to the other accused, purportedly updating them about Forbes’ movements.
A sum of R800 000 was allegedly paid for AKA’s head.
