Nomonde Zondi|Published
Video footage showing a grey BMW sedan allegedly driven by accused Mziwethemba Gwabeni following a luxury Hyundai carrying rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his entourage is being played at the Durban High Court.
The footage was extracted by Constable Rajen Saunders on February 15, 2023, five days after Forbes and his friend, Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, were shot dead outside Wish restaurant on Florida Road in Durban.
The footage shows a white Hyundai Staria entering the first tollgate on the N2 after leaving King Shaka International Airport. After the Hyundai carrying Forbes and his entourage passes through the tollgate, two other vehicles follow, with a third vehicle, allegedly the BMW driven by Gwabeni, also seen paying the toll.
Saunders testified that the BMW was travelling in the same lane as the vehicle carrying Forbes and his entourage. He identified Gwabeni, saying he had seen him previously in the cells at Durban Central police station and in video footage he had downloaded from various locations.
On Monday, the State played separate airport footage that allegedly shows Gwabeni following Forbes after the rapper landed in Durban.
In that footage, Forbes is seen walking with his entourage towards Europcar car rentals. A man wearing shorts and a jacket with black sleeves and a white section across the chest is seen walking some distance behind them, seemingly talking on his cellphone.
Saunders said the man driving the BMW in the tollgate footage was wearing a jacket similar to the one worn by the man seen following Forbes at the airport.
The same BMW is later seen in footage from the Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga on Ncondo Road, shortly after the Hyundai carrying Forbes and his entourage arrives at the hotel where they were booked to stay.
The court also heard that Gwabeni had hired the BMW from Imraan Khan. Khan had previously disclosed that he saw the vehicle from the police after they contacted him when the BMW had been seized. He then pointed out that the BMW did not have black rims, a black spoiler and a removed front number plate, when he rented it to Gwabeni.
While showing the footage, Saunders pointed out the BMW’s black spoiler and rims, as well as the missing front number plate. However, the vehicle’s rear registration plate was visible in the footage recorded at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Moreover, a witness who cannot be named had previously testified that he made changes to the BMW.
As deputy director of public prosecutions advocate Lawrence Gcaba led Saunders through his evidence, Gwabeni repeatedly raised his hand, prompting defence counsel advocate William Nicholson SC to stand and take instructions from him. Gwabeni was also seen taking notes during the proceedings. He is on trial with Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande and brothers Siyabonga and Melusi Ndimande.
The trial continues.
nomonde.zondi@iol.co.za
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