The bail hearing for the murder accused in the AKA and Tibz proceeded at the Durban Magistrates Court where the State maintained that accused number 3, Siyanda Myeza, is the one who brought the firearms used to kill the two deceased. Myeza at only 21, is the youngest amongst the seven suspects arrested for the murders of the two celebrity friends, real names Kiernan Forbes and Tebello Motsoane.

HE DID NOT DO IT  

Myeza's defence, Yolanda Gielink, on behalf of Myeza, said the State's case against her client was weak. She mantained that her client had nothing to do with the murder. Gienlink argued that Myeza was a person of meagre means and that there was no way he could have organised firearms the state alleges he did for the murders. "To suggest that he is the organiser of firearms is a stretch. The cases against him stretch back from when he was only 19, he is now 21. It's highly improbable that a young person like that would be entrusted by all these taxi associations to run guns for them," she argued. Myeza's mother told The Witness last month during one of the court appearances that her son couldn't have committed the crime as he was injured, and his leg was in a cast when the murder was committed in February 2023. She also said that the person seen in the CCTV footage of the two friend's murder was light skinned while her son is dark skinned. ?

STATE ARGUMENT 

State prosecutor advocate Lawrance Gcaba responded to arguments made by defence lawyer, emphasising that the State has gathered evidence which indicates that Myeza arranged the weapons for the alleged hit. "Exhibit G explained clearly that there was an arrangement for people to go collect tools, the tools if I can use that loose word, which tools were going to be used to kill the deceased, in particular deceased number one," he said, adding that after the commission of the crime, the weapons were returned to the alleged distributor. "Hence in April 2023, the weapons were found in the possession of accused number three. We have evidence that says he made arrangements for it to be given to the co-accused and those that are in Swaziland used at will and brought back."

RULING TO BE MADE 

Magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo said he will not be available in court next week and that he will make his ruling on the accused's bail application on May 15th. The five accused Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi (30), Lindani Ndimande (36) Myeza (21) Mziwethemba Gwabeni (36) and 29-year-old Lindokuhle Ndimande were remanded in custody. The accused face ten charges including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and being in possession of firearm and ammunition. Two of their co-accused and brothers Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande are still in Swaziland where they were arrested in February and officials are still waiting for the approval of their extradition back to SA.