The AKA murder trial opened Oct. 5 at the Durban High Court, where seven men pleaded not guilty to charges tied to the February 2023 shooting deaths of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, TimesLIVE reported. Judge Nomfundo Sipunzi barred media from reporting what witnesses say on the stand.
What the Seven Accused Face in the AKA Murder Trial
Forbes and Motsoane were shot outside the Wish restaurant on Florida Road in Durban on Feb. 10, 2023, according to the National Prosecuting Authority. The NPA listed the charges as conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, several counts of attempted murder and firearm and ammunition offenses. Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, the authority’s regional spokesperson, gave that account in June.
Each of the seven faces 11 counts, IOL reported. Siyanda Eddie Myeza faces six more, from a May 2022 killing, per TimesLIVE. Briefly described those extra charges differently, saying Myeza received a separate trial for unrelated earlier charges. Briefly also reported that prosecutors allege a firearm in Myeza’s possession links him to both the Durban shooting and a 2022 shooting in Mayville.
TimesLIVE reported that the first day lost time to malfunctioning prisoner lifts at the court and to delays in transporting two brothers extradited from eSwatini. All seven remain in custody, according to The Citizen, which said the next hearing was set for Tuesday.
What Judge Sipunzi’s Media Order Allows and Bans
Sipunzi’s directive lets accredited media attend and broadcast. It permits reporting of the pleas, the opening and close of the state and defense cases, counsel’s arguments, rulings and orders, and the final judgment, according to IOL.
It bars naming any witness or giving personal details, and it bars publishing exhibits or witness evidence as it is given. IOL quoted the order as saying media must not publish testimony “unless otherwise authorised by the Court.” Photographs of the courtroom are allowed only before proceedings begin or after adjournment, per The Citizen, which also reported the directive can be modified if justice requires. The order covers witnesses called by either the state or the defense.
IOL reported that the judge framed the directive as a balance between freedom of expression and open justice on one side and the accused’s constitutional right to a fair trial on the other. IOL’s Mercury edition said the order protects witness safety and trial fairness.
Criticism of the Blanket Ban On Testimony Reporting
Barry Bateman, of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, objected to the ruling. “A court cannot impose a blanket ban like this,” he said, according to The Citizen, and he said he trusted the media would appeal. Bateman pointed to the Gumede trial as a case where witness objections were handled one by one rather than by a single order.Under the directive, the public will see pleas, arguments and rulings from the trial but not testimony. The openings, closing arguments and rulings are the main reportable record until the judge delivers judgment.
How Long the AKA Murder Case Has Taken and What the Calendar Looks Like
From the shooting to the first day of trial, 1,333 days passed. EWN reported the case has been postponed repeatedly over three years, mainly because of extradition proceedings for two suspects in eSwatini and lawyers’ availability. Legal analyst Abigail Ngobene told EWN, “Our courts are having backlogs and strain.”
The calendar has also changed. When the NPA announced trial dates in August 2025, it listed two windows, July 20 to Aug. 21, 2026 and Oct. 5 to Nov. 6, 2026, for five accused. EWN’s August 2026 report lists Oct. 5 to Nov. 6, excluding Nov. 4 for elections, and April 12 to May 14, 2027, and no July window. Each remaining window spans 33 calendar days, and the second does not begin until about five months after the first ends.
In July 2025, IOL reported prosecutors planned to call more than 45 witnesses and present bank statements, vehicle tracker data, ballistics, CCTV and witness statements. At that time five accused were before the court. The count has since grown to seven.
That same July 2025 IOL report said the pre-trial work was nearly done, with most formal admissions under Section 220 of the Criminal Procedure Act agreed and some defense objections to specific admissions still open. Attorneys Jimmy Howse and Simphiwe Mlotshwa were then representing three of the accused. The plan to call more than 45 witnesses has to fit inside two windows of 33 calendar days each.
State prosecutor Lawrence Gcaba told the court in August the only open issue was “the disclosure of certain statements,” EWN reported. Gcaba said that once those were disclosed, the state could confirm it was trial ready.
What the Families Said at the Opening
AKA’s father, Tony Forbes, expressed confidence in the investigators, Briefly reported. TimesLIVE reported that AKA’s parents and Motsoane’s father attended. SNL24 reported that the seven suspects were arrested about a year after the killings, five in South Africa and two in eSwatini. Image: A licensed archival photo of AKA on stage from Getty Images or Gallo Images, with a license fee payable to the agency. Courtroom images are limited to the judge’s pre-session and post-adjournment window and need the photographer’s clearance.
