AKA, Tibz murders were co-ordinated using hired guns and cars, says KZN police boss
Following a year-long investigation, police on Tuesday night said the six suspects arrested for the murders all had a role to play in the alleged assassination.
FILE: Multiple South African Music Award Nominee AKA on the red carpet. Picture: Eyewitness News
DURBAN - Police have confirmed the arrest of six people in connection with the murders of renowned rapper Kiernan Forbes, widely known as AKA, and his friend, Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane.
Both men were shot and killed in February 2023 outside a popular restaurant on Durban's Florida Road.
Following a year-long investigation, police said the attack on the multi-award-winning rapper was a planned hit.
It was also revealed during an urgent press briefing in Durban on Tuesday night that one person linked to the case is still at large.
Police top brass told journalists that the six suspects were behind bars.
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KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said each suspect played a different role in what he described as a hit.
“We have a coordinator, who is basically the master of everything, he is in custody. We have two shooters that you all saw on social media, we had two spotters, one of the spotters was inside the restaurant watching Mr Forbes.”
Mkhwanazi added that the guns and cars used for the fatal incident were all traced to have been hired.
“The vehicle used as a getaway and the firearms used to shoot were all hired.”
'AKA'S MOVES WERE MONITORED'
Mkhwanazi further detailed the developments to journalists.
“The spotter initially followed Mr Forbes from the airport on arrival and all the way to the hotel as well as to the restaurant where the incident happened.”
He added that the person who followed aka is also the one who organised resources for the hit - and even made payments thereafter.
“This person was also responsible for hiring, gathering resources and the whole team together as well as the rewards that came thereafter when the people have done their jobs, the payments that were done.”
According to police, the first arrest was made in April last year and the recent arrests include a pair found in Eswatini.
The group will appear in court on Thursday, with police saying more arrests are imminent.