As proceedings in the high-profile Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes murder trial continue to unfold in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban, shocking new testimonies are shedding light on the chaotic moments of the fatal shooting.
Also see: AKA and Tibz murder trial gets underway in Durban court
Among the key witnesses taking the stand is Siyabonga Mdluli, AKA’s road manager, whose recent virtual testimony provided a harrowing, step-by-step account of the night that shook South Africa’s music industry.
Inside the witness stand: The chaos on Florida Road
Testifying virtually before the court, Mdluli walked proceedings through the final moments outside the Wish restaurant on Florida Road in February 2023. Mdluli described standing near AKA and chef Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane just moments before the tragedy unfolded.
When the initial gunshots rang out, instinct took over. Mdluli recalled running away from the immediate line of fire, with Tibz running alongside him, until Tibz suddenly collapsed.
Also see: Here is the shocking twist in the AKA murder case — the killers are coming back
It was only in the immediate aftermath, and crucially, upon later reviewing the CCTV surveillance footage capturing the horrifying sequence, that Mdluli realised the full scope of the targeted hit and came to understand that he himself had narrowly escaped being caught in the crossfire of an assassination intended directly for the rap icon.
Today is Day 7 of the AKA Tibz murder trial.
Siyabonga Mdluli, road manager to the late rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes, has taken the witness stand.
On 10/02/2023 Forbes and Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane were shot and killed outside a restaurant on Durban’s Florida Road. TCG https://t.co/Haqf7mCEAm
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 14, 2026
Unanswered questions and security gaps
Mdluli’s testimony also turned the spotlight onto the actions of the security detail present that night.
Under questioning by senior State advocate Elvis Gcweka, Mdluli admitted that he lost track of the bodyguard’s whereabouts during the chaos, a detail that has become a central point of examination as the trial scrutinises the security arrangements surrounding the rapper.
As the trial of the seven accused men proceeds through testimonies from close associates, photographers, and investigating officers, the nation continues to watch closely.
The emerging evidence is steadily piecing together the harrowing reality of a night that forever changed Mzansi hip hop, bringing the pursuit of justice one step closer to clarity.
Featured image: Instagram/@akaworldwide
Also see: Ndimande Brothers Extradition Date Confirmed in AKA Murder Case
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