Six suspects linked to the murder of popular rapper AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, have been arrested. They will appear in court on Thursday.
The police confirmed the arrests on Tuesday evening at a media briefing held at the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police headquarters in Durban.
Murder weapon recovered
Four vehicles and a firearm used in the commission of the crime, have been recovered.
KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said AKA’s murder was well-orchestrated, with spotters following the multiple award-winning artist from the time he landed at the King Shaka International Airport, to his hotel and outside the eatery where he was gunned down.
The slain rapper, AKA, real name Kearnan Forbes, was followed from the King Shaka airport before being ambushed and killed on a busy Florida Road outside Wish Restaurant in Durban on February 10 in full view of patrons.
“There’s a total of six suspects that have been arrested and detained in connection with the murder of the two individuals, Mr Kiernan Forbes as well as Mr Tebello Motsoane. These six had played different roles during the operation.
Police minister Bheki Cele said AKA’s family has been informed about the arrests.
Mkhwanazi said should investigations lead the police to other suspects, they would effect arrests and add more people to the charge sheet.
Murder coordinator identified
He said the police have identified one person as the coordinator of the murder organised the resources used in carrying out the murder, including cars, guns, and money, among other things.
“We have the coordinator, who is the master of everything. He is in custody. This person was also responsible for hiring and gathering resources together, as well as the rewards after having committed the crime. We have two shooters. We have two spotters as well,” explained Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi, however, said the police were not sure if the suspect identified as the coordinator of AKA’s murder got an instruction to carry out the murder from elsewhere.
“This one was commanding the forces that were operating on the day. Mr Forbes was the main target. The plan was to shoot him in the vehicle,” he said, adding that AKA was shot outside the car because he had spent a lot of time outside his car chatting to his friends.
Mkhwanazi said AKA’s friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, the second murder victim, was gunned down by coincidence while the shooters were aiming for AKA.
He explained that the spotter initially followed AKA from the airport on arrival all the way to the hotel. Another spotter was inside the restaurant, keeping tabs on AKA’s movements while also being in contact with those who executed the actual hit.
Eswatini media exerted pressure
But it was the Eswatini media that exerted pressure on South African authorities to give a status update on whether the two men arrested in Eswatini were connected to the murder of Forbes.
Initially, police issued a statement, saying the duo were not linked to the crime, instead of the murder of two people that was committed in the Berea area last year. But on Tuesday, Mkhwanazi said the reason for a decoy was to avoid compromising the case.
According to Mkhwanazi, police are hot on the heels of the seventh suspect, who is currently in hiding.
It also emerged during the briefing that guns were hired and four vehicles were used to commit the brutal murder, including a Mercedes Benz, a Polo, and BMW.
Cele also explained that there was a legal process to get the two suspects to face trial in the country.
The police would also not disclose the motive behind the killing, saying it was part of a police investigation.
Cele, on the other hand, said the intention was not to conceal the progress of the case.
“The intention was to put our ducks in the row. We should congratulate the police for refusing the pressure that would have comprised the case. Police have tried, under very trying conditions, to take on all South Africans. The only thing is that people want to see blood and body to believe,” said Cele.
