A senior police investigator involved in the probe of rapper Kiernan Forbes’ murder, known as AKA, has stated that authorities will not arrest KwaZulu-Natal businessman Mfundo Gcaba at this time.
This decision comes as there is insufficient concrete evidence linking him to the assassination.
The incident, which occurred on February 10 last year, saw AKA, whose real name is Kiernan Forbes, and his close friend Tibz Motsoane shot and killed outside a Durban restaurant.
Gwabeni, identified as a taxi boss and a suspect in the case, is alleged to have received R800,000 to pay the hitmen responsible for the double homicide.
During their investigation, police discovered that Gcaba had transferred the substantial amount into Gwabeni’s account.
“The money and the two calls between him (Gcaba) and Gwabeni are not sufficient to effect an arrest or bring him in for questioning.
“The police want to establish a motive and on whose instructions Gwabeni was acting. We believe there are more powerful people involved here,” the police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
Gwabeni, in turn, reportedly paid over R133,000 to each of the other suspects involved in carrying out the hit.
Despite these findings, a police officer familiar with the details of the Forbes murder case explained that connecting Gcaba directly to the murders remains challenging.
The officer emphasised that the money transfer and phone calls between Gcaba and Gwabeni are not sufficient grounds for arrest or questioning.
The police source, speaking anonymously, hinted at the involvement of more powerful individuals and the need to establish motives and instructions behind Gwabeni’s actions.
When questioned about Gcaba’s status despite being mentioned in court, KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara declined to comment, citing ongoing investigations into the matter.