AKA Murder Trial Turns To Airport CCTV As Court Examines Suspected Tail
AKA Murder Trial Turns To Airport CCTV As Court Examines Suspected Tail. Surveillance footage from King Shaka International Airport has become a key focus in the ongoing trial over the murders of South African rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend, celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, with the court examining images of a man who bears a resemblance to one of the accused.
Presented in the Durban High Court by surveillance analyst Sandile Khuzwayo, the footage revisits 10 February 2023, when AKA arrived in Durban from Johannesburg ahead of his final performance.
The recordings show the rapper and members of his entourage making their way through the airport’s arrivals area. Shortly afterwards, another man appears on camera wearing navy-blue shorts and a black-and-grey jacket with black sleeves.
The individual is seen walking with a noticeable limp while speaking on his cellphone. He then moves in the same direction as AKA’s group, passing through areas near the car-rental counters, including Europcar, before appearing again around the airport exits and parking areas.
Although the State did not formally identify the man in court during the footage presentation, his appearance bears a resemblance to fourth accused Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, also referred to as Gwabini. Prosecutors had previously indicated during bail proceedings that CCTV footage would show Gwabeni following AKA from the airport.
The defence, however, has questioned whether the images are clear enough to support an identification, challenging both the quality of the footage and the witness’s ability to recognise the individual.
Still images extracted from the airport’s specialised surveillance system were submitted as exhibits, with the analyst explaining that the system does not readily allow the footage to be shared in standard video-file format.
The airport recordings add to earlier evidence concerning a grey BMW allegedly seen following AKA from King Shaka International Airport to his hotel and later towards Florida Road, where the fatal shooting took place.
On the evening of 10 February 2023, AKA and Tibz were gunned down outside Wish restaurant on Florida Road, in an attack that sent shockwaves through South Africa’s entertainment industry. CCTV footage from the scene, which circulated widely on social media after the killings, captured the pair interacting with friends shortly before a gunman approached them at close range.
Seven men are standing trial in connection with the killings: Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Ndimande, Malusi Dave and Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande.
They face charges that include murder, attempted murder and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. All seven have pleaded not guilty.
The State’s case seeks to establish whether AKA and his entourage were under surveillance before the shooting, with the airport footage potentially forming part of its argument that the attack was planned. However, the identity of the man seen in the recordings and the significance of his movements remain matters for the court to assess.
Ballistics evidence presented during the proceedings has also linked cartridge cases recovered from the Florida Road crime scene to other incidents, raising further questions about possible connections that remain under examination.
As the trial continues, attention remains on the evidence that could help reconstruct the events leading up to the deaths of AKA and Tibz. The airport footage offers a glimpse into the hours before the shooting, but the court must still determine what the images establish and whether they support the State’s allegations against the accused.
