AKA’s bodyguard who was there when he was kiIIed has been arrested

Lindokuhle Ndimande, one of the individuals implicated in the murder of renowned rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes, refutes allegations of being a spotter during the incident. This revelation surfaced during the bail hearing at the Durban Magistrate’s Court for five of the seven suspects involved in Forbes and his friend Tebello Motsoane’s murder.

The charges against all suspects include conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, and money laundering. Most of the accused were already facing separate charges of murder and robbery with aggravated circumstances and were previously out on bail.

Upon the arrest of the five suspects in February, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi detailed the various roles played by the seven suspects, including spotters, shooters, organizers of firearms and getaway vehicles, and orchestrators.

According to the State, CCTV footage shows Ndimande arriving at Wish Restaurant at 21:17, where he proceeded to enter and have a meal. Allegedly, he rearranged his seating to obtain a better view of AKA and his group, engaging in continuous phone conversations and using a newly opened bank account to pay for his meal.

Despite the chaos following the shooting, Ndimande appeared unaffected compared to other patrons. However, during the hearing, Ndimande countered the spotter allegations, claiming he was at the restaurant for a date, which unfortunately didn’t materialize.

In his affidavit, Ndimande’s legal representative, advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, asserted that his client was unaware of AKA’s presence and was solely focused on awaiting his date’s arrival. Only after the gunfire subsided did Ndimande become aware of the shooting outside, learning that AKA was among the victims.