Nomonde Zondi|Published
CCTV footage played in the Durban High Court appears to show a man resembling fourth accused Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni following rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his entourage at King Shaka International Airport on the day the rapper arrived in Durban shortly before his murder.
The footage, played by the State led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Lawrence Gcaba, shows Forbes arriving at the airport before a man wearing shorts and appearing to limp is seen moving through the same area.
Although Gwabeni has not been identified on the record as the man in the footage, the State previously told the Durban Magistrates’ Court during his bail proceedings that CCTV footage would show him following Forbes from the airport.
During a bail application based on new facts, Gcaba told the court that Gwabeni was clearly visible in the footage.
The State alleges that Gwabeni followed Forbes and his entourage until they reached the Hilton Hotel in Umhlanga, where they were booked to stay.
Gwabeni is standing trial alongside Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, and brothers Siyabonga Gezani and Malusi Dave Ndimande. They are accused of killing Forbes and his friend, Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, on Florida Road in Durban on February 10, 2023.
In the footage, Forbes is initially seen walking alone after arriving at the airport, wearing a purple jacket. He then heads towards the exit near Woolworths before appearing alongside three people, believed to be members of his entourage, as they walk beneath the arrivals roadway.
Shortly after Forbes and the group disappear from view, a man wearing navy-blue shorts and a black-and-grey jacket with black sleeves appears on camera. He appears to be speaking on a cellphone.
In subsequent footage, Forbes and his entourage walk past the Budget and Avis car rental areas towards Europa Car Rentals, where they enter the premises.
The man seen earlier also walks in the same area. He is no longer on the phone and appears to be carrying a device in one hand, with the other hand in his pocket.
He walks past Europa Car Rentals before turning back. As he approaches Budget, he looks towards the parked rental vehicles, then turns around and stops near Avis, where he again looks towards the vehicles.
He appears to speak to someone before walking back in the direction of Budget.
Surveillance analyst Sandile Khuzwayo explained that the airport’s surveillance system does not allow the footage to be downloaded or played on other devices because of the software used and copyright restrictions. He also referred to the airport’s status as a national key point.
“When viewing this footage, you are viewing the original and not the copy,” Khuzwayo told the court.
He said he was able to produce still images from the footage and provide them to the State.
During his testimony, Khuzwayo was asked to identify Forbes in the footage. Under cross-examination, Advocate William Nicholson SC, who represents Gwabeni, put it to the witness that the man wearing the purple jacket was Forbes.
“It was AKA,” Khuzwayo replied.
Nicholson asked whether Khuzwayo knew the colour of Forbes’s eyes. The witness said he did not.
The trial continues.
nomonde.zondi@iol.co.za