Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande are in a high-stakes legal battle to avoid extradition to South Africa. The brothers, who are suspected of being involved in the 2023 murders of South African rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his former manager Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, were arrested in February, following the arrest of their co-accused in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to ZiMoja, Siyabonga and Malusi allegedly hid in Eswatini when they were arrested. Their legal counsel argues that their lives would be in grave danger if they were returned to South Africa. The brothers appeared in the Manzini Magistrates Court to contest the extradition order, with their defence team emphasising the serious threats to their client’s safety.
SABC News reported that Siyabonga and Malusi left the country citing concerns for their safety due to past violence involving rival taxi associations, which they claim resulted in family members being killed. They also allege collusion between some police officers and these rival taxi bosses. Their legal representative, Advocate Tsotsi Mabila, argues that Malusi was in school and later hospitalised at the time of AKA and Tibz’s deaths.
Meanwhile, Zimoja reports that the legal team criticised the South African state for not addressing the safety concerns raised by the defence. “We don’t deny the allegations brought against my clients,” the lawyer added, “but the state has not addressed the critical issue of their safety.”
WATCH: Newzroom Africa posted a video on X featuring the legal counsel for the Ndimande brothers arguing why their case should not be returned to South Africa.
[WATCH] The legal counsel for the Ndimande brothers, accused of AKA and Tibz murders, argues why the matter should not be brought back to South Africa from eSwatini. He says the accused’s lives are in danger.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/X0BlrpwQNl
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 29, 2024
