Top advocate, set to represent two of AKA's alleged killers, arrives in Durban court

Police Minister General Bheki Cele can be seen seated in the Durban Magistrates Court ahead of the AKA and Tebello Motsoane murder trial. Picture: Jolene Marriah-Maharaj/IOL

Police Minister General Bheki Cele can be seen seated in the Durban Magistrates Court ahead of the AKA and Tebello Motsoane murder trial. Picture: Jolene Marriah-Maharaj/IOL

Published Feb 29, 2024

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Police Minister General Bheki Cele arrived in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, ahead of the five suspects’ appearance for the murder of rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane.

IOL has spoken to top advocate Paul Jorgenson who has confirmed that he will represent two of the accused.

The courthouse began to fill up shortly after 9am and it is understood that the matter will proceed this morning.

Advocate Paul Jorgenson and his colleague Sizwe Cele at the Durban Magistrates Court. Picture: Jolene Marriah-Maharaj/IOL

The suspects, reportedly aged 36 and below, were arrested over the past few months culminating in the seventh suspect being arrested on Wednesday.

Forbes and Motsoane were killed outside Wish Restaurant in Florida Road, Durban on February 10, 2023.

The “co-ordinator” of the hit, who allegedly hired the people and did the payments handed himself over to police on Tuesday.

Two other suspects, arrested in Eswatini over the weekend, still have to be extradited to South Africa.

A time frame has not been placed on the extradition process and according to experts could take up to a year.

KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, together with Cele this week unveiled the SA Police Services’ investigation, saying they never revealed aspects of the investigations until all the suspects were apprehended.

They have not ruled out any further arrests.

It is unclear if the Forbes family will be at court this morning.

In chilling revelations, police said the day AKA was killed a spotter followed him from King Shaka International Airport to his hotel and thereafter to the restaurant.

Another spotter was inside the Wish restaurant.

This is a developing story.

IOL