Johannesburg – Two wanted suspects in the murder of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his celebrity chef friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, who fled to neighbouring Eswatini, have abandoned their challenge to being extradited to South Africa to face trial.
On Wednesday, 29 October 2025, Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande and Malusi Dave Ndimande, key suspects in the 2023 murders, abandoned their appeal against extradition from Eswatini.
AKA and Tibs were shot and killed in February 2023 outside a popular restaurant on Durban’s Florida Road.
The Ndimande brothers, who were wanted for the murders, ran away to Eswatini, where they were arrested in Eswatini in February 2024.
Abandoning their appeal clears the path after the Manzini Magistrate’s Court approved South Africa’s request in August 2024 to have the pair brought back to the country.
Commenting on the development on Thursday, 30 October 2025, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said she welcomes the confirmation that the accused have withdrawn their appeal against extradition from the Kingdom of Eswatini to the Republic of South Africa.
The Minister said she received from the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), confirming receipt of a Notice of Abandonment from the Kingdom of Eswatini authorities, signalling the withdrawal of the suspects’ appeal.
The Minister said she was of the view that their withdrawal brings the process of extraditing them to South Africa closer to being finalised.
At this stage, the Kingdom of Eswatini authorities will handle the remaining procedural matters and will communicate further developments to the South African authorities in due course.
Minister Kubayi expressed her appreciation to the South African law enforcement and justice officials who have been working closely with their counterparts in the Kingdom of Eswatini to advance this case to its current stage.
The Minister said she looks forward to the successful extradition of the two suspects to South Africa so that they can face justice and the families of the victims can find closure.
When the brothers are brought back to South Africa, they will join five co-accused in the Durban High Court in the ongoing murder trial.
