Two brothers, Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande, were apprehended in Eswatini due to their suspected roles in the murders of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend, chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane. They have been extradited back to South Africa.
The brothers arrived at King Shaka International Airport on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, following the approval of their extradition by authorities in Eswatini.
After months of legal complications, during which the brothers initially contested their return, they eventually decided to forgo their appeal, allowing the extradition order to proceed.
The Ndimande brothers face a combined total of 24 criminal charges related to three different violent events.
According to SAPS National Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, these charges encompass the notable murders of AKA and Tibz, along with the murder of a taxi owner in Amanzimtoti in 2022 and an attempted murder of another taxi owner’s spouse.
“You’ll recall that they are wanted in three cases; the first being the murder of a taxi boss in Amanzimtoti in 2022, where they’re facing five charges. The second case is that of AKA and Tibz, where they’re facing about 11 charges. The third case was also in Durban, where they attempted to kill the wife of a taxi boss. They are facing about eight charges in that particular case. They also murdered the taxi boss’ driver. So, in total 24 charges,” Brigadier Mathe told eNCA.
Authorities suspect that one of the brothers extradited from Eswatini was the individual who fatally shot AKA outside a restaurant in Durban in February 2023.
“What is interesting is that we do believe that one of the two brothers that we are extraditing today from Eswatini is maybe one of them that actually pulled the trigger and shot AKA. So, it’s quite an important moment for us,” Mathe added.
The spokesperson also expressed confidence in the evidence collected, indicating a strong connection between the suspects and all three violent incidents.
“We’re quite confident that the evidence that we have gathered is enough to really ensure a successful conviction. We can positively place them on the crime scene where AKA and Tibz died, as well as the matter of the taxi boss, as well as the attempted murder of the wife of the taxi boss,” she said.
A video from the South African Police Service depicts the Ndimande brothers being transported in leg irons at King Mswati III International Airport before getting on a private plane under strict security.
Concerns regarding their safety were previously voiced by the siblings, who indicated that they feared for their lives if extradited. They are now set to stand trial in South Africa, with proceedings anticipated to commence in July 2026.
