Seven suspects have been apprehended in relation to the murders of rapper Kiernan Forbes, better known as AKA, and his close companion, celebrity chef and entrepreneur Tebello “Tibz” Motshoane.
The duo was fatally shot outside a restaurant in Florida, Durban a year ago, a tragic event that sent shockwaves throughout South Africa.
According to authorities, hired hitmen targeted AKA, although the motive remains undisclosed.
Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, stated in a press briefing, “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.” He further noted, “We know they were paid for this.”
The suspects, all under the age of 36, are set to appear in court on Thursday.
The accused individuals played various roles in the plot to assassinate AKA, including two gunmen who carried out the shooting, two spotters who tracked AKA from the airport, someone responsible for obtaining the firearms used in the attack, and the mastermind behind the plan.
Police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda said the seventh man was a 30-year-old South African citizen originally from KwaZulu-Natal province, and is accused of acting as a spotter.
Additionally, some of the suspects are implicated in unrelated murder cases.
Two of the suspects were apprehended in Eswatini following a raid conducted by Interpol over the weekend. They appeared in a magistrate’s court in Eswatini on Tuesday, with plans underway to extradite them to face charges in South Africa.
Acknowledging the disturbance caused by the killings, Police Minister Bheki Cele expressed hope, stating, “I hope South Africans will sleep better after this.”
Exhibits recovered during the arrests include four vehicles, firearms linked to the murders, and empty cartridges.
AKA, renowned for his music career with hits including collaborations with Nigeria’s Burna Boy, gained recognition both locally and internationally, earning nominations from Black Entertainment Television (BET) and MTV Europe. He was posthumously honored at the BET Hip Hop Awards last year.