Two men that are accused of being a part of the crew that waylaid and assassinated rapper AKA are set to be returned to South Africa for justice, after a court in the Kingdom of eSwatini granted an order authorising their extradition.
AKA was shot and killed alongside longtime friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane on February 10 last year outside a Durban restaurant.
Brothers Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande were arrested in eSwatini last year and charged with the murders of the two celebrity friends.
After a legal battle that had stretched over the last few months, principal Magistrate David Khumalo at the Manzini Magistrates Court ruled that the two did not need to worry about their safety, as he did not believe that they were under threat from the entirety of the South African Police Services (SAPS).
The pair had claimed that their lives were in danger from members of the force.
“The affidavits submitted to the court show that these threats are not entrenched in the entire police institution. Now one of the heads informed the court that he carried out investigations as soon as he heard the court mention the threats, and a special unit was set up for purposes of this investigation.
“We are also assured that once the investigation is complete, the culprits will be brought to book,” he said.
Khumalo said that he has been assured that the two would receive adequate protection once in SA.
“All the police heads, including those of Correctional Services, have assured us that the respondents will be given maximum security in their transmission to South Africa. This means that the fears of the respondents have been addressed.
“This court has added an additional safety measure to order the South African human rights commission to ensure respect, safety, and protection of the rights of the respondents as they go back to their country. Finally, the application to extradite is granted,” Khumalo said.
The two brother’s co-accused, Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande recently appeared at the Durban Magistrates Court, where Magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo allowed the state’s plea to postpone the matter to the 29th of November to complete ongoing investigations.
