South Africans says its disappointing that Police Minister Bheki Cele can’t even catch the murder suspect that was caught on camera shooting AKA dead. Image: Twitter/@akaworldwide
Two suspects arrested in Eswatini have no connection to AKA’s murder
SAPS in KZN has responded to reports by Eswatini media linking the arrest of two ‘hitmen’ to the murder of AKA and Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane.
South Africans says its disappointing that Police Minister Bheki Cele can’t even catch the murder suspect that was caught on camera shooting AKA dead. Image: Twitter/@akaworldwide
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has responded to reports linking two South African nationals (arrested by police in the Kingdom of Eswatini on Friday, 23 February) to the murder of award-winning hip hop artist Kiernan Forbes – better known as AKA.
ESWATINI POLICE REPORTEDLY ARREST TWO SUSPECTS IN AKA MURDER
According to the Times of Eswatini, the two suspects (aged 28 and 29) are brothers from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where the late rapper was murdered on 10 February 2023.
The Fela in Versace hitmaker and his celebrity chef friend, Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, were gunned down outside a restaurant on Florida Road that fateful night. The assassination was captured on video footage.
As per the Eswatini publication, the two suspects fled to the neighbouring country (where they have been renting a house) after committing a string of crimes, which also include the murder of three taxi owners. Sources further revealed that three men were living in the house, however, one of them managed to escape when police pounced on them.
Eswatini’s Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent, Nosipho Mnguni, only confirmed the arrest of the two suspects. She said they received information that suspects were wanted on charges of murder.
SAPS IN KZN RESPOND
However, KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi disputed the reports by Eswatini media in a statement on Monday.
Mkhwanazi said the suspects arrested in Eswatini face charges of murder and attempted murder where a man, who was a passenger in a vehicle, was shot dead in Berea on 6 March 2023.
The commissioner further said that police would notify AKA and Tibz’s families and then the public, through the media, should there be any developments.
“Investigations into that particular matter [AKA] are at a sensitive stage and police do not want to communicate information that may comprise the investigation. The ‘AKA’ and ‘Tibs’ murder case is a complex one and there was and still are tonnes of evidential information to be analysed and processed.
“This is a prosecution-led investigation and when the police have tied all the loose ends and covered all the loopholes an announcement into the investigation and the progress will be communicated.”
AKA AND TIBZ’S MURDER SUSPECTS ALREADY IN JAIL
Earlier this month, on the anniversary of AKA and Tibz’s passing, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe told eNCA that some of the suspects are already in prison for other crimes.
“We have positive evidence linking identified suspects, others are in custody related to other matters.
“Others are on the run, and the team is hot on their heels,” she told the news channel.”
Mathe also appealed for patience and calm as they investigate the murders. She said explained that the silence from the police was not to undermine the affected families.
“The SAPS [South African Police Service] acknowledges and understands that this is a very sensitive matter. We would like to assure affected families and the public that we have spent countless hours and endless manpower on tracing those behind these murders in the past year.”
