Tibz’s Final Moments Recounted

DURBAN, 20 October 2026 — A witness in the murder trial of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane has described the desperate attempts to help Motsoane after gunfire erupted outside a popular Durban restaurant in February 2023.

Musician and event organiser Lusaso “Saso” Ngcobo told the Durban High Court on Tuesday that Motsoane was bleeding and repeatedly struggling to breathe after being shot.

Ngcobo, who was among the group spending the evening with Forbes and Motsoane, described how an ordinary gathering of friends turned into chaos within seconds.

His testimony provided the court with a firsthand account of the moments immediately following the shooting that claimed both men’s lives.

Witness Describes Moments Before Shooting

Ngcobo told the court that he had known Forbes since approximately 2013.

On 10 February 2023, he met the rapper and members of his entourage before the group went to Wish restaurant on Florida Road.

According to his testimony, they spent roughly two hours together, eating, talking and catching up.

The atmosphere was relaxed, with the friends discussing their lives and future plans.

Ngcobo said Forbes had also spoken about music projects he was working on.

The group eventually prepared to leave the restaurant, with Forbes expected to attend another engagement later that evening.

As they stood outside saying goodbye, the situation changed suddenly.

Gunshots Initially Sounded Like Firecrackers

Ngcobo testified that he heard a loud noise while standing near the restaurant’s entrance.

At first, he could not identify the sound.

He said it resembled a firecracker, prompting him to instinctively duck.

When he noticed people running, he realised something dangerous was happening.

Ngcobo said he moved back towards the restaurant’s entrance as the confusion intensified.

He subsequently understood that the sounds were gunshots.

The shooting occurred outside Wish restaurant on Florida Road, where Forbes and Motsoane were fatally wounded.

The incident attracted widespread national attention and prompted an extensive police investigation.

Tibz Struggled To Breathe After Shooting

One of the most emotional parts of Tuesday’s testimony concerned Ngcobo’s attempts to help Motsoane.

After moving towards safety, Ngcobo looked back and noticed that his friend had fallen.

He returned to check on him.

Ngcobo told the court that he could see blood but was initially uncertain whether it was on Motsoane or on the ground.

When he asked whether Motsoane was all right, the injured chef repeatedly told him that he could not breathe.

Ngcobo said Motsoane remained on the ground and eventually stopped responding.

The witness described discovering an injury around Motsoane’s chest, beneath his left arm.

As the situation became increasingly desperate, those nearby tried to find ways to help him.

Friends Tried To Stop The Bleeding

Ngcobo testified that the group initially attempted to find towels to control the bleeding.

They also tried to contact emergency medical services.

During a telephone conversation seeking assistance, someone advised them to use plastic rather than towels.

The witness’s account highlighted the confusion and urgency experienced by those at the scene.

Ngcobo also described seeing Forbes lying outside as he moved towards Motsoane.

The testimony offered further insight into how quickly the attack unfolded and how those nearby reacted before emergency personnel arrived.

The court has previously heard evidence from another witness that paramedics attempted to resuscitate Motsoane.

Both Forbes and Motsoane were declared dead at the scene.

Witness Says He Was Close To Victims

Ngcobo, a member of the South African hip-hop group Dream Team, was among the people standing near Forbes and Motsoane when the shooting occurred.

According to reporting from the proceedings, he said he had been approximately an arm’s length away from them.

His evidence is significant because he was present during the shooting and witnessed part of its immediate aftermath.

The State is also relying on evidence concerning attempted murder charges involving people who were near the victims.

Ngcobo’s testimony forms part of the prosecution’s effort to establish what happened outside the restaurant.

However, his account must be considered alongside other witness testimony, forensic evidence and the defence’s challenges.

Court Protects Witnesses Following Threats

Tuesday’s proceedings also raised concerns about the safety of witnesses appearing in the high-profile trial.

Senior State Advocate Elvis Gcweka informed the court that a witness who previously testified had reportedly received threatening messages after his image circulated publicly.

The witness was an airport surveillance analyst who had given evidence about footage from King Shaka International Airport.

The State asked the court to prevent witnesses’ faces from being shown during broadcasts of their testimony.

Gcweka explained that some witnesses feared for their personal safety, while others were concerned about possible consequences for their businesses.

Judge Nomfundo Sipunzi granted a protective direction preventing Ngcobo’s face from being broadcast.

The development illustrates the court’s efforts to balance public access to proceedings with witness protection and the accused persons’ right to a fair trial.

Airport Surveillance Evidence Examined

Earlier proceedings included testimony from an analyst who examined surveillance footage captured at King Shaka International Airport.

The footage reportedly showed a man following Forbes on the day of the murders.

The prosecution has been presenting evidence concerning the movements of individuals before the shooting.

The airport analyst’s testimony formed part of the State’s broader attempt to reconstruct events leading up to the attack.

However, the significance of the footage and any conclusions drawn from it remain matters for the court to assess.

The fact that a person appears in surveillance footage does not, by itself, establish criminal involvement.

Seven Men Face Murder Charges

Seven accused are standing trial in connection with the deaths of Forbes and Motsoane.

They are:

• Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi
• Lindani Zenzele Ndimande
• Siyanda Eddie Myeza
• Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni
• Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Mkhwanazi
• Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande
• Malusi Dave Ndimande

The accused face charges that include conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, attempted murder and firearm-related offences.

All seven have pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution must prove the allegations against each accused beyond reasonable doubt.

The fact that they are standing trial does not mean their guilt has been established.

Forensic Evidence Also Under Scrutiny

Alongside eyewitness testimony, the State has presented evidence concerning firearms and ballistic examinations.

On Monday, 19 October, a ballistic expert testified about spent cartridges recovered from separate shooting incidents.

The court heard evidence linking cartridge cases from the February 2023 killings to those associated with an earlier shooting in Mayville, Durban.

Investigators have also examined a separate Mayville shooting case involving accused Siyanda Eddie Myeza.

The court previously ruled that the independent Mayville charges should be dealt with separately from the main AKA and Tibz murder trial.

The prosecution nevertheless continues to present evidence it considers relevant to the murder investigation.

The defence will have the opportunity to challenge the forensic findings and their relevance.

Previous Witnesses Describe Chaotic Scene

The Durban High Court has heard several accounts of the shooting since the trial began.

On 14 October, photographer and camera operator Thotloetso Kutlwano Mogotsi described the panic that followed the gunfire.

Mogotsi was part of the team accompanying Forbes during the Durban visit.

The court also heard evidence from Forbes’s road manager, Siyabonga Mdluli, who described searching for the rapper after people fled the scene.

Other witnesses have described seeing individuals leaving the area following the shooting.

These accounts form part of the prosecution’s attempt to establish a detailed sequence of events.

However, differences between witness recollections and the reliability of identification evidence remain matters to be tested during the trial.

Why The Trial Matters

Forbes, widely known by his stage name AKA, was one of South Africa’s most prominent hip-hop artists.

His death, alongside that of Motsoane, shocked the country’s entertainment industry and prompted widespread calls for justice.

Motsoane was a chef, entrepreneur and entertainment industry figure who had established relationships with several prominent South African artists.

The case has attracted significant public attention because of the victims’ profiles and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The proceedings are also testing the prosecution’s ability to establish the alleged involvement of each accused through eyewitness accounts, digital evidence and forensic analysis.

The court must assess the evidence independently of public opinion.

What Happens Next?

The trial is continuing in the Durban High Court, with the State expected to present further evidence.

Proceedings have been scheduled through early November, although additional court dates may be required.

The prosecution is continuing to build its case through witness testimony, forensic evidence and evidence concerning events before and after the shooting.

The defence will have opportunities to cross-examine witnesses and challenge the State’s allegations.

For the families and friends of Forbes and Motsoane, Tuesday’s testimony revisited the traumatic events of 10 February 2023.

Ngcobo’s account offered a painful description of Motsoane’s final moments while highlighting the attempts made to help him.