Six individuals have been apprehended in connection with the tragic killings of renowned South African rapper Kiernan Forbes, widely known as AKA, and his close confidant, celebrity chef and entrepreneur Tebello “Tibz” Motshoane.
The pair fell victim to gunfire outside a restaurant in Durban one year ago, a heinous act that sent shockwaves through the South African community.
Law enforcement authorities disclosed that hired assassins were commissioned to target AKA, yet the motive behind the attack remains undisclosed.
Throughout his career, AKA amassed a repertoire of chart-topping hits, collaborating notably with Nigeria’s Burna Boy.
The apprehended suspects, all under the age of 36, are scheduled to make a court appearance on Thursday.
“It was clear that AKA was monitored from the airport and Tibz was not the intended target in the murder on Florida Road in Durban,” Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, said in a press briefing on Tuesday night.
“We know they were paid for this,” Lt Gen Mkwananzi added.
He stated that the six accused individuals fulfilled distinct roles within the scheme to assassinate AKA.
Among the incarcerated suspects are two gunmen responsible for firing multiple rounds at the victims, two spotters who trailed AKA from Durban’s airport, an individual who procured the firearms used in the ambush, and the mastermind behind the plot.
Additionally, some of the suspects have been implicated in unrelated murder cases.
Following a raid conducted by Interpol over the weekend, two of the men were discovered in a hideout in neighboring Eswatini. They appeared before a magistrate’s court in Eswatini on Tuesday, with plans underway to extradite them to South Africa to face murder charges.
Lt. Gen. Mkhwanazi mentioned that local media reports regarding the arrests may have alerted a seventh suspect who remains at large.
Recovered exhibits from the arrests include four vehicles, firearms linked to the murders of AKA and Motshoane, and spent cartridges.
Police Minister Bheki Cele acknowledged the distress caused by the killings of AKA and his friend, captured on CCTV cameras, which deeply affected many within a country grappling with one of the highest murder rates globally.
“I hope South Africans will sleep better after this,” he said.
Reflecting on the motive that minister said it will “come out in court”.
“We are all interested to know what the motive was. It is very clear that it was not a case of someone waking up in the morning angry. You can see that in the build-up and co-ordination.”
AKA embarked on his musical journey as a member of the rap collective Entity before venturing into a successful solo career, garnering numerous accolades in South Africa for his musical prowess.
His influence extended beyond borders, earning him several nominations for prestigious awards from Black Entertainment Television (BET) and MTV Europe, solidifying his international acclaim. Even posthumously, his contributions were recognized, as evidenced by a tribute bestowed upon him at the BET Hip Hop Awards last year.