DURBAN. – A former police officer has told the Durban High Court how he led a team that arrested Siyanda Eddie Myeza who is on trial for the murders of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane.
Myeza is one of seven people on trial for the high-profile murders which made headlines around the world.
The trial, scheduled to begin at 9.30am yesterday, was delayed by several disruptions.
Proceedings were initially affected by a power outage. The court was then told that Myeza’s counsel, advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, and advocate William Nicholson SC, who represents Gwabeni, had become stuck in a lift while travelling to the 12th floor, where the trial is being heard.
The court was subsequently informed that the prisoner’s lift was also out of service.
The matter was stood down until the lifts were operational.
The officer, who previously served in the South African Police Service’s Tactical Response Team (TRT), testified that Myeza was arrested in Umlazi’s L Section in April 2023 on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The arrest took place about two months after Forbes and Motsoane were shot dead on Florida Road in Durban on February 10, 2023.
The Mercury reported that the officer told the court that he and another TRT member were on night shift on April 21, 2023, when they received information from the Crime Intelligence Unit about a suspect allegedly in possession of a firearm.
The team proceeded to Myeza’s home, where the officer said they found him inside a shack.
He testified that the door was slightly ajar but appeared to be touching the floor.
After knocking and identifying themselves as police officers, the team forced the door open.
The officer, who left the SAPS earlier this year, confirmed that he had worked with a TRT member who testified in the trial last Thursday.
Seven men are standing trial in connection with the killings: Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Mkhwanazi, Malusi Dave Ndimande and Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s deputy police chief has resigned three weeks after he was charged with sexual offences.
A lawyer representing Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya submitted his resignation letter at his disciplinary hearing yesterday, a police spokesperson said.
Sibiya, 59, is also accused of having links to organised crime bosses – allegations which led to him being suspended last year.
He denies those allegations, as well as charges that he sexually groomed a 16-year-old girl and raped an 18-year-old woman.
He also faces a charge of human trafficking.
Sibiya says he did have sex with the 18-year-old but that it was consensual.
He has been in custody since he was arrested three weeks ago.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said in a post on X that his departure from the police force was regarded as a dishonourable discharge because he was still facing a disciplinary case when he resigned.
The accusations that Sibiya was linked to crime bosses emerged at a major public inquiry over allegations of police corruption and collusion with criminals, known as the Madlanga Commission.
Sibiya was accused of interfering with investigations into political killings in KwaZulu-Natal province. He was also accused of receiving a gift of cash, as well as 20 impalas, from an alleged criminal kingpin in exchange for a police contract.
He denied the allegation.
The Madlanga Commission has transfixed South Africa over the past year and unearthed widespread allegations of links between police officers and crime bosses. – IOLBC
