AKA murder trial: R28 airport parking payment linked to Gwabeni’s virtual card

Ask AI 2minMziwethemba Gwabeni, Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Ndimande, brothers Malusi Dave and Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande watching Gwabeni's FNB bank statements at Durban High Court on Thursday

Fresh evidence of a R28 parking payment at the airport has bolstered previous CCTV footage before the Durban High Court placing accused Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni at King Shaka International Airport on the day rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his entourage were there. 

FNB employee Ashley Wilson testified that a virtual card linked to Gwabeni’s account was used to pay R28 for parking at the airport at 3.54pm on February 10, 2023. Wilson said the payment was made using an iPhone. 

CCTV footage previously shown to the Durban High Court appeared to show Gwabeni limping and following the award-winning rapper while on his cellphone at the airport that day.

During his 2024 bail application, Gwabeni denied being the person who made the airport payment.

The court is currently examining Gwabeni’s bank statements, displayed on a large screen, as Wilson takes the court through transactions relevant to the State’s case.

Wilson also linked the same virtual card to a payment at the Nelakhe Caltex garage in Umlazi, where it was allegedly used to pay for petrol shortly after AKA and his friend, celebrity chef Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, were shot dead outside Wish restaurant on Florida Road.

Wilson, led by senior State advocate Elvis Gcweka, presented documents detailing the airport and garage transactions.

The garage payment is significant in light of earlier evidence tracing the movements of two vehicles of interest in the case — a grey VW Polo and a Hyundai Grand i10 — from Durban’s CBD to the Jacobs area and later to Umlazi on the night of the murders.

Tracker data previously presented to the court showed that both vehicles, allegedly hired by Gwabeni, were in the Jacobs area before travelling in different directions. The Hyundai Grand i10 headed towards Umlazi, while the VW Polo was recorded on Florida Road.

The State alleges that the getaway vehicle used by the shooters was collected in the Jacobs area before the murders.

Earlier CCTV evidence from Cappello and AuthentiQ restaurant on Florida Road showed accused Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Ndimande getting out of the VW Polo before the shootings.

The tracking data later placed both vehicles at the Umlazi garage at about 11pm.

Wilson also testified about Bright Circle, the company from which more than R800,000 was deposited into Gwabeni’s account on February 11, 2023.

He told the court that the company was registered in November 2017, had a Glenwood address and listed Mfundo Gcaba as its sole director.

Gcaba is a member of the prominent and controversial Gcaba family linked to the taxi industry in KwaZulu-Natal. Documents relating to the company were handed in as exhibits.

Gwabeni and Ndimande are standing trial alongside Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, Siyanda Eddie Myeza, Lindokuhle Mhlaliseni Ndimande, and brothers Malusi Dave Ndimande and Siyabonga Gezani Ndimande for the murders of AKA and Tibz.