In a significant development, Police Minister Bheki Cele has verified the capture of six individuals believed to be connected to the tragic demise of the renowned musician Kiernan AKA Forbes.
Scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, these arrests mark the culmination of a sustained effort by law enforcement. The initial arrests began last year, with the latest apprehensions occurring over the weekend in eSwatini, where two alleged masterminds were found hiding, according to KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Minister Cele commended the diligent work of law enforcement, emphasizing their unwavering commitment to resolving the case: “There’ve been things that have been done (to find them). From us in the national office, we congratulate the men in blue. They did not sleep until it was done. The first person was arrested in April last year.”
He added, “I hope South Africans will have a better sleep after this.”
The arrests bring the total number of suspects in connection with the murders of AKA and Tebello Tibz Motsoane, who were fatally shot in Durban last February, to six. Mkhwanazi outlined the roles played by each suspect in the crime: “We have a coordinator, he is in custody, two shooters and one was inside observing Mr. Forbes in the restaurant.”
He further detailed, “The spotter followed Mr. Forbes all the way from the airport when he arrived. The second suspect supplied firearms and vehicles. The third is a shooter linked to another murder case. We have another spotter who was outside the restaurant. We also have another spotter linked to another case and a shooter linked to another case. We have a total of four vehicles, firearms, and cartridges.”
Regarding the vehicles used in the crime, Mkhwanazi stated, “A BMW was discovered on the second of August. The other two vehicles were hired from the owner who rented them out to some of the suspects. We have all the vehicles and are comfortable with the evidence of this case.”
