Cry boy AKA gun

Heartbroken boy says he does not want to live in South Africa anymore because AKA was shot with a gun. Image: Twitter

Family condemns statements made about AKA’s friends [watch]

AKA’s father held a media briefing on Wednesday, where he was accompanied by his family, Nadia Nakai and the rapper’s friends.

Cry boy AKA gun

Heartbroken boy says he does not want to live in South Africa anymore because AKA was shot with a gun. Image: Twitter

The family of slain hip hop artist Kiernan “AKA” Forbes has condemned the defamatory social media statements and speculations about the rapper’s friends.

On Tuesday, 14 February, the late musician’s father, Tony Forbes, addressed the media at Rockets club in Bryanston, Johannesburg, for the first time since the Lemons (Lemonade) hitmaker was gunned down in Durban on Friday, 10 February.

ALSO READ: AKA ‘received several warnings’ not to set foot in Durban again

FORBES FAMILY THANKS MZANSI FOR THE SUPPORT

Forbes was accompanied by his ex-wife and AKA’s mother, Lynn; their children; the rapper’s girlfriend Nadia Nakai; and their friends.

Speaking at the briefing, Forbes thanked the media for the dignified manner in which it has covered reports about his son.

ALSO READ: CCTV footage: Tracing the two gunmen who murdered AKA, Tibz

He further thanked fans, AKA’s industry colleagues and friends for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult period in their lives.

Forbes went on to send condolences to the Motsoane family after their son Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane was also brutally murdered on the same night.

The musician’s father acknowledged and thanked the slain celebrity chef and author for launching the AKA brand as he worked as AKA’s manager during the early stages of his music career.

ALSO READ: Youngsta CPT on how Cape Town would’ve handled AKA’s murder

AKA
Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane with AKA in their younger days. Image via Twitter @lebolukewarm

FAMILY CONDEMNS STATEMENTS ABOUT AKA’S FRIENDS

Forbes went on to thank AKA’s friends who were with him on that fateful night and further expressed that they do not condone what is being said about them on social media.

“We extend our love and support to the friends who were with Kiernan in his last moments in Durban and we feel their trauma and pain as well. Our home will always be open to them.

“We do not condone what is being said about his friends and those making such dangerous statements should cease from doing so immediately,” he said.

WATCH THE BRIEFING IN THE VIDEOS BELOW:

SOCIAL MEDIA LABELS DON DESIGN AS PRIME SUSPECT

The Forbes family’s statement comes after various speculations and aspersions cast on the rapper’s friends who were with Jim the night he was murdered.

Following the circulation of CCTV footage showing what transpired at the scene, Don Design became the number one suspect on social media.

Many theories have been made since the release of the footage, including claims that the Python musician “sold” AKA out. The claims are solely based on his moments in the clip as there is no sound.

Controversial former music exec, Nota Baloyi also took to social media at the weekend to post a defamatory video in which he names his suspects. Nota claimed that Don Design, DJ Feels, former Dreamteam member Saso, rapper Ntokozo “K.O” Mdluli and his brother Scorpio Siya — who worked with AKA — are his prime suspects.

don design aka death twitter
Tweeps are calling on police to question one of slain rapper AKA’s friends, Don Design, in connection with the hip-hop star’s death. Images via Twitter @akaworldwide and @don_design

MEMORIAL AND FUNERAL DETAILS FOR AKA AND TIBZ

The memorial service for AKA will be held on Friday 17 February 2023 at 15:00 at the Sandton Convention Centre. Limited free tickets to the memorial are available on WebTickets. The memorial will also be live-streamed on the AKAWORLDWIDE YouTube page.

He will be laid to rest in a private provincial funeral on Saturday 18 February 2023.

According to the Motsoane family, Tibz’s memorial will take place at a special send-off ceremony on Thursday, 16 February 2023 at Sacred Heart College in Observatory, Johannesburg.

The chef and author will be laid to rest at the weekend in a private funeral.