BREAKING IN AKA & TIBZ MURDER TRIAL: State Shows 3-Hour CCTV Of Gwabeni Allegedly Following AKA From Airport To Hotel – Same Day He Allegedly Received R800k
The AKA and Tibz murder trial took a dramatic turn yesterday in the Durban High Court as the State played almost 3 hours of CCTV footage allegedly showing accused number four, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, tracking Kiernan “AKA” Forbes on the day he was killed.
The footage was presented by King Shaka International Airport surveillance analyst Sandile Khuzwayo and later identified by SAPS technical detective Sergeant Rajen Sanders.
What the CCTV showed:
The court heard that on 10 February 2023, AKA landed at King Shaka International Airport from Johannesburg for a performance in Durban. CCTV played in court shows the rapper, wearing a purple jacket, arriving alone and later meeting up with three members of his entourage near the Woolworths exit and the car rental area.
Shortly after, a man wearing navy shorts and a black-and-grey jacket with black sleeves appears in the same area, allegedly speaking on a cellphone. The State alleges this man is Gwabeni.
Detective Sanders told the court he positively identified Gwabeni in the footage after reviewing it with investigating officer Warrant Officer Kumarasan Pillay.
“He had sighting of one of the accused in the footage. I then had a closer look and I agreed with him from knowing that I’ve seen him before on other footages,” Sanders testified.
The State alleges the surveillance did not stop at the airport.
More CCTV and vehicle tracking footage was shown of a grey BMW allegedly driven by Gwabeni following AKA’s white Hyundai Staria through the N2 toll plaza towards the Hilton Garden Inn in Umhlanga, where AKA and his team were booked.
A grey VW Polo and a white Hyundai Grand i10, both vehicles a car rental owner confirmed were leased to Gwabeni, were also allegedly seen circling the hotel.
The R800k Allegation:
On the same day – 10 February 2023 – the State alleges Gwabeni received a payment of R800,000 which was then allegedly shared amongst the accused. This money is alleged to be the payment for the hit.
This is the day AKA and his friend and chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane were gunned down outside Wish Restaurant on Florida Road in Durban.
Gwabeni’s lawyer, Advocate William Nicholson, objected to the identification, arguing that Sanders is not a facial identification expert and that the identification was not contained in his affidavit. Judge Nomfundo Sipunzi ruled that the witness could proceed.
Gwabeni is on trial with six others: Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Ndimande, and brothers Siyabonga Gezani and Malusi Dave Ndimande. All have pleaded not guilty.
The trial continues.