Five people have been taken in for questioning by the police over the murder of South African rapper Kiernan Forbes, also known as AKA.
A Netwerk24 report claims that three men were initially arrested at the Erica Square shopping centre in Belhar on Sunday. Two more men were then apprehended in another part of Belhar.
Police on Monday refused to confirm the arrests of the suspects.
When contacted to confirm the allegations in the Netwerk24 report, police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Netshiunda said “we are not giving any update on the AKA matter at this stage”.
“Investigations are ongoing,” he added.
The report claims that the task force investigating AKA’s murder had been tracking the suspects for two weeks.
Officers allegedly made a breakthrough in their investigation when they found the Mercedes-Benz that was used as a getaway car. It was abandoned in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal.
DNA and fingerprints were found inside the car.
The suspects are expected to be transferred to Durban, so they can be charged.
Earlier in March, Police Minister Bheki Cele said police were making good progress in their investigation into AKA’s murder.
“It’s a matter that we cannot let rest. Unfortunately, we can’t be giving you the blow-by-blow of everything. But the progress is absolutely there. There are things I’m not supposed to say, but what I can say is we have collected a lot of cellphones that we’re working on, and trying to knot things together,” said Cele.
AKA was shot outside the Wish restaurant, on Florida Road in Durban, on 10 February 2023. His friend Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane was also killed in the shooting.
CCTV footage of the shooting showed how AKA was killed. The rapper can be seen hugging and shaking hands with friends before a man runs up to him and fires a gun several times.
AKA then falls to the ground as the shooter flees the scene on foot.
