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Seven people have been arrested and detained in connection with the murder of South African rapper Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, known professionally as AKA, and his former manager and friend, Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane,
Police Minister Bheki Cele said late on Tuesday night that six people were arrested. On Wednesday, a seventh suspect, a 30 year-old, was apprehended.
The suspects were due to appear in court on Thursday, said Cele at a late-night press conference at the South African Police Service (SAPS) headquarters in Durban. He did not specify which court.
Cele was joined by the KZN provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola.
Forbes (35) and Motsoane were fatally shot on Florida Road in Morningside, Durban, on 10 February 2023.
The shooting took place outside the Wish on Florida restaurant. Police said Forbes and Motsoane were walking to their car when they were approached by two armed men who crossed the street and shot them at close range.
The shooting was captured on CCTV footage published by TimesLIVE and widely circulated on social media.
Poster during a night prayer for AKA and Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane outside Wish on Florida Restaurant on 12 February 2023 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo: Gallo Images / Darren Stewart)
“These six [suspects] — they played different roles during the operation. We have the coordinator, who is basically the master of everything. He is in custody. We have two shooters. We have two spotters — one of the spotters was inside the restaurant observing, watching Mr Forbes and his friends — as well as the organiser of firearms and vehicles, because the vehicle used as a getaway and firearms used to shoot, they were all hired,” Mkhwanazi said.
One of the spotters initially followed Forbes from the airport on arrival, to his hotel and the Wish on Florida restaurant, Mkhwanazi said. This person was also responsible for gathering the team of hitmen and the resources, and paying them “their rewards” when the job was done.
Some of the suspects, who weren’t named, were linked to other murder cases, Mkhwanazi said.
The SAPS had recovered four vehicles, a firearm and “cartridges that were picked up from the crime scene that were linked with another crime scene where another shooting happened”, Mkhwanazi said.
The first vehicle — a Mercedes-Benz — was recovered on 6 March 2023, and the firearm that was used to shoot Forbes was recovered on 22 April.
“On 23 June 2023, the team — after recovering the cartridges — linked them together and were able to confirm that that firearm was used in both murder scenes,” he said.
“A BMW was recovered on 2 August — that’s the vehicle that was trailing Mr Forbes when he landed in KZN.”
@Daily Maverick
Online Reporter