AKA-Tibz trial: Former police officer says Myeza claimed gun was for ‘safekeeping’

A man found in possession of a firearm linked to the murders of Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend, Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, allegedly told the police officer who arrested him that he was carrying the gun for safekeeping.

The revelation was made by a former police officer who was attached to the Tactical Response Team (TRT), who testified at the Durban High Court on Monday afternoon.

The officer arrested Siyanda Eddie Myeza on April 21, 2023, after receiving information from the Crime Intelligence Unit that he was in possession of a firearm at Umlazi’s L Section.

Myeza is alleged to have supplied firearms that were used in the murders of AKA and Tibz, who were gunned down on Florida Road in Durban on February 10, 2023.

The former officer told the court that he was with three other TRT members when they went to arrest Myeza.

Upon entering the one-room structure where Myeza was, the officer said he recognised him from the description provided by Crime Intelligence. He said he secured Myeza and asked to search him.

“What do you mean by saying you secured him?” Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Lawrence Gcaba asked.

The former officer explained that he positioned himself in front of Myeza to prevent him from moving or doing anything, as they had been informed that he was in possession of a firearm.

“I secured him and thereafter identified myself and produced my appointment card,” he said.

The officer said he and his colleagues were in full uniform and that he informed Myeza why they were there before obtaining his consent to conduct a search.

“After that I conducted a body search on the suspect. Upon searching his groin part I observed that there was something there and thereafter removed the object and established that it was a firearm,” he testified.

The firearm contained four live rounds of ammunition — three in the magazine and one in the chamber. The officer said he secured the firearm and noticed that its serial number had been erased.

He subsequently questioned Myeza about the firearm.

“He stated that he was only carrying the firearm to safekeeping himself,” the officer testified.

When asked whether Myeza had produced a licence for the firearm, the witness said no.

The officer also testified that Myeza was injured at the time of his arrest. He had a hard cast extending from his lower leg to about halfway up his thigh. The witness stepped down from the stand to demonstrate the extent of the cast to the court.

Last week, Myeza’s lawyer, advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, told the court that his client had sustained the injury on the same day AKA and Tibz were killed.

During cross-examination on Monday, Mlotshwa put it to the witness that Myeza’s cast extended all the way up to his groin, making it impossible for him to have concealed or carried the firearm.

The witness disputed this, saying it was not possible for a cast to extend into that area.

“He denies any knowledge of the firearm and having any direct control of the firearm,” Mlotshwa said.

“The problem is I found the firearm in his possession,” the former police officer replied.

Myeza is on trial alongside Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Mkhwanazi, Malusi Dave Ndimande and Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande.

The trial continues.

nomonde.zondi@iol.co.za