Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola has sent an extradition request to the Kingdom of Eswatini for the Ndimande brothers allegedly involved in the murders of AKA and Tebello (Tibz) Motsoane.
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola has transmitted a request by South Africa for the extradition of brothers Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande from the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The brothers are wanted back in South Africa due to their alleged involvement in the murders of South African award winning musician Kiernan Jarred Forbes (AKA) and his friend Tebello (Tibz) Motsoane.
AKA and Mr Motsoane were shot and killed in a brazen attack outside the popular Wish Restaurant in Florida Road, Durban on February 10 last year.
In a statement issued by the Department of Correctional Services they said that on Tuesday (March 19) they made and extradition request to the Kingdom of Eswatini to bring the brothers back to South Africa.
“The request is made in terms of the Extradition Treaty between South Africa and Eswatini, dated October 4, 1968, and in terms of the SADC Protocol on Extradition dated October 3, 2002, to which both countries are signatories. The Ministry stands ready to give its highest level of co-operation to its counterparts in the Kingdom of Eswatini,” the department said in a statement.
Meanwhile this week, the five men arrested in connection to the murders of AKA and Mr Motsoane appeared at the Durban Magistrate’s Court.
Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 21, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 36 and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, 29, appeared on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder (Forbes), murder (Motsoane), unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, five counts of attempted murder and two charges of money laundering.
At the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday March 18, it was revealed that Lindani Zenzele Ndimande and the Eswatini accused are brothers.
The brothers are taxi owners. Mr Ndimande said he and his family were caught in a violent conflict over routes in Malukazi, KwaZulu-Natal.
He said his brothers sought refuge in Eswatini as they were going to be assassinated. Mr Ndimande said he also feared being assassinated in prison and wanted to be released on bail.
To date the court has heard the bail affidavits of Mr Ndimande, Mr Myeza, and Mr Mkhwanazi.
On Tuesday March 19, it was alleged that Gwabs Mining, owned by accused Mr Gwabeni, received an amount of R803 455 on the pretext that it was for the services of consulting but instead it was payment for AKA’s murder.
Mr Gwabeni denied the allegations. He said in court that the payment was from a reputable company whom he has done business with for three years. The case is still proceeding.