Lynn Forbes made an emotional return to Durban on Monday as she attended proceedings in the murder case involving her son, slain rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes.
The rapper’s mother travelled to Durban on 5 October for the court appearance, arriving alongside members of Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane’s family as the long-running case moved forward.
For Lynn, the trip carried an added emotional weight. Durban is the city where her son and his close friend were killed in February 2023.
Lynn flies to Durban for the court proceedings
All seven accused appeared before the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to the charges they face in connection with the deaths of AKA and Tibz.
The accused face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder, attempted murder, as well as firearms and ammunition-related offences.
Proceedings were delayed after two of the accused had not arrived at court at the scheduled start of the hearing.
Lynn sat alongside Tibz’s father, Sylvester Motsoane, as the case proceeded.
Following the court appearance, Lynn shared an emotional message on social media revealing that she had flown to Durban and returned home on the same day.
Her words reflected the continuing grief she carries following the loss of her son.
‘I hope you’re dancing in the sky’
Reflecting on the journey, Lynn dedicated a poignant message to AKA.
She wrote: “I hope you’re dancing in the sky. I hope you’re singing in the angel’s choir.”
The post offered a glimpse into the emotions surrounding a day that required her to return to the city associated with one of the most painful moments of her life.
Lynn has previously spoken openly about how difficult it has been for her to travel to Durban since AKA’s death.
Why Durban remains difficult for Lynn
In a 2023 interview, Lynn explained that she had no desire at the time to return to Durban.
She stressed that her feelings were not about the city or its people, acknowledging the strong connection AKA had with Durban and his supporters there.
Instead, she said the prospect of boarding a plane to Durban brought back an overwhelming amount of emotion.
Her latest visit shows just how much has changed since those comments, with the court proceedings giving her another reason to make the difficult journey.
Lynn has spoken candidly about grief
AKA’s mother has repeatedly opened up about the impact of losing her son.
She has described the pain of waking up each morning and having to confront the reality that she will never hear his voice again.
Lynn has also previously expressed a different perspective on closure, saying that knowing who was responsible for her son’s killing would not change the reality of his absence.
While Tony Forbes has spoken about attending the proceedings as part of his own search for closure, Lynn’s approach to grief has been more personal.
For her, the loss remains something she carries regardless of the outcome of the case.
As the legal proceedings continue, the Forbes and Motsoane families are once again being forced to revisit a tragedy that changed their lives forever.
The accused have pleaded not guilty and remain presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
