The Durban Magistrates Court heard today that the two Ndimande brothers who are held at an eSwatini prison, fled the country as they feared for their lives. This was revealed in a bail affidavit by one of the seven accused, Lindani Ndimande, who is linked to the killing of rapper Kiernan 'AKA' and his friend Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane. Five of the suspects were back in court this morning for the continuation of their bail application.

SIBLINGS KILLED BY NIU

In his affidavit read out in court by his lawye,r Joe Wolmerans, Ndimande claimed that his two brothers and co-accused in the matter, Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande who are held in a prison in eSwatini prison, awaiting their extradition to SA, fled the country as they feared for their lives. He said this comes after six of their other siblings were killed by the SAPS's National Intervention Unit (NIU) in taxi war matter in Mtubatuba. Ndimande who said he owns four taxis is also wanted for taxi violence-related matter. "My four siblings were killed by the NIU. They NIU had their faces covered when they came to my homestead in Empangeni to look for me and made it clear that they will kill my whole family if they did not tell them about my whereabouts. My co-accused at eSwatini, yet to be restrained, have been forewarned and fled to seek refuge in eSwatini,' he said in the affidavit.

BAIL BID

Last week, only two of the five accused Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi (30) and Siyanda Eddie Myeza (21) could file bail applications as the other three suspects could not apply for bail as their affidavits needed to be amended. The accused face charges including two counts of murder, five of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, possession of unlawful firearms and possession of unlawful ammunition. 

STATE HAS WEAK CASE

Ndimande said in the affidavit that the state only had circumstantial evidence against him with no witnesses that would place him on the scene of the incident. He said he will be pleading not guilty. Two other accused who applied for bail last week, accused number 1 Mkhwanazi and accused 3 Myeza, also said that they believed the State's case against them was weak and that they intend on pleading not guilty when the matter goes to trial. The matter has been adjourned until tomorrow where two more accused will make their submissions for bail.