Police Minister Bheki Cele has urged the public to refrain from putting pressure on police to finalise investigations and arrests of suspects, especially in high-profile cases.
Cele was addressing the media outside the Durban Magistrate’s Court during the court appearance of five of the seven accused linked to the murder of rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and his friend, Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane.
The two were shot dead in an alleged hit outside a Durban restaurant in February last year. Cele says the postponement of the case to 6 March will allow the investigating team to be able to defend the State’s case when the accused apply for bail.
“For us, we are really happy that we are here. A lot of pressure has been put by (sic) this case since the demise of AKA. There has been a call every day that, as the police, (and) law enforcement, we need to do better. It is a sad situation to come here and see people that could do such a pain (sic) to the nation. I have never seen such a collective pain of the nation.”
Responding to the extradition processes of the two remaining suspects who are in custody in eSwatini, Cele says he is confident that it will go smoothly.
“We don’t expect too many hiccups on the matter from the side of the police. The relationships are quite good with the Swazi kingdom. We are in touch and talk with the Prime Minister, the minister of police as well. We don’t expect a lot of resistance or problems. But you’ll never know with these things, we hope, and we wish that the case run smoothly.”
The five are facing 10 counts, which includes two charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms.
Security was tight inside and outside Court 11 as they made a brief appearance. They are Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabini and Lindokuhle Ndimande.
The state asked that the matter be postponed for further investigation and to allow them time to finalise the extradition processes of the two accused who were arrested in eSwatini.
The state said it needed at least seven days to gather crucial information to oppose the bail application, which all the accused intend to make.
AKA’s father, Tony Forbes, who was also present in court to catch the glimpse of the men accused of killing his son, says while he applauds the police for making a breakthrough, the family will never find closure until the mastermind is arrested.
Forbes says, hopefully, the start of the court case is only the beginning of their journey to get answers.
“So, the coordinator, if I understand things correctly, received the sum of money and shared it with six other people. Where did that money come from? If it came through the banking system, then the police should be able to pick up the trail and find out where it came and continue with the investigation from there. Is this the true mastermind? My gut feeling says no, but I haven’t done an investigation. I am just speculating.”
The matter was provisionally remanded to 6 March for bail verification.
The five men remain in custody.
