Six individuals have been apprehended for their involvement in the tragic killings of renowned South African rapper Kiernan Forbes, popularly known as AKA, and his close confidant, celebrity chef and entrepreneur Tebello “Tibz” Motshoane.
The pair fell victim to gunfire outside a Durban restaurant a year ago, shocking the South African community.
Law enforcement authorities revealed that the hired assassins were specifically commissioned to target AKA, though the motive behind the attack remains undisclosed.
The suspects, all under the age of 36, are set to appear in court on Thursday.
According to Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, AKA was closely monitored from the airport, and Tibz was not the intended target.
“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 Mkhwanazi stated in a Tuesday night press briefing. “We know they were paid for this,” he added.
The six accused individuals had distinct roles in the assassination scheme.
This includes two gunmen responsible for firing at the victims, two spotters who trailed AKA from Durban’s airport, an individual who procured the firearms used, and the mastermind behind the plot.
Some of the suspects are also implicated in unrelated murder cases.
Following a weekend raid by Interpol, two suspects were found in a hideout in Eswatini.
They appeared in a magistrate’s court on Tuesday, with plans underway to extradite them to South Africa to face murder charges.
Recovered exhibits from the arrests include four vehicles, firearms linked to the murders, and spent cartridges.
Police Minister Bheki Cele expressed hope that these arrests would bring relief to the South African public, deeply affected by the killings captured on CCTV cameras.
Reflecting on the motive, Minister Cele asserted, “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 coordination.”
AKA, who began his musical journey as a member of the rap collective Entity, ventured into a successful solo career, earning accolades in South Africa and international acclaim.
Even posthumously, his contributions were recognized, with a tribute bestowed upon him at the BET Hip Hop Awards last year.