South African authorities have arrested six suspects in connection with the tragic murder of renowned rapper Kiernan Forbes, widely known as AKA, and his close friend, celebrity chef and entrepreneur Tebello “Tibz” Motshoane.
The duo was fatally shot on February 10, 2023, while strolling with a friend outside a popular Durban restaurant just hours before AKA was scheduled to perform at a nearby club.
AKA, who began his music career as part of the rap group ‘Entity’ before embarking on a successful solo career, had garnered numerous accolades in South Africa and received international recognition. He posthumously received nominations at the Black Entertainment Television and MTV Europe Awards, and was honored at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards.
Police authorities stated that the suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
“It was evident that AKA was under surveillance from the airport, and Tibz was not the intended target in the murder on Florida Road in Durban. We believe they were paid for this,” remarked KwaZulu-Natal provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, on Tuesday night.
South Africa’s Police Minister, Bheki Cele, affirmed that the murders of AKA and his companion, captured on Closed-Circuit Television cameras, had deeply shocked many citizens of the country, which has one of the world’s highest murder rates.
“I hope South Africans will find some solace after this,” Cele stated.
South Africa has been grappling with a high rate of violent crime, with several entertainment figures falling victim to such incidents. Notably, reggae singer Lucky Dube was fatally shot in 2007 during an attempted carjacking while dropping off his teenage son at a relative’s home.
The country recorded an alarming rate of nearly 84 murders per day between October and December, according to recent police statistics.
