Five men accused of killing celebrity chef Tebello Motsoane and one of the country's most iconic rappers and record producers Kiernan AKA Forbes, appeared in the Durban Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
The award-winning rapper AKA was expected to perform at one of Durban's popular nightclubs in February when he was shot and killed by unknown gunmen.
Forbes and his friend Motsoane were killed outside a popular restaurant on Florida Road, which since had to close its doors.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Natasha Ramkisson-Kara says the five men are facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and five counts of attempted murder.
The suspects, who all entered the dock with masks on, were instructed to remove it, for their faces to be seen.
photo: ECR Newswatch
The suspects are Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 21, Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni, 36 and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, 29.
The matter was provisionally remanded to the 6th of March for bail verification.
On Tuesday police confirmed the arrest of a seventh suspect, including two in Swaziland who are not yet in the country.
KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said those arrested included the alleged shooters, spotters, and the coordinator of the hit.
He said the investigation established, among others, that one of the two alleged spotters arrested had tailed Forbes from the airport when he arrived in Durban.
The others supplied firearms and several cars which were seized between March last year and this year.
Four of the suspects in custody have been linked to several other cases including murder.
