Police Minister Bheki Cele has confirmed that six men, including those who were recently extradited from eSwatini, have been charged with the murders of South African rapper, Kiernan "AKA" Forbes and his friend celebrity chef Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane who were shot dead outside a restaurant on Florida Road in Durban, KwaZulu Natal.

Cele's announcement comes after the SAPS issued a statement yesterday denying that the two suspects arrested in eSwatini were linked to these murders, claiming that they were arrested for a shooting incident which occurred in Berea in March 2023. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said the six men arrested included the mastermind behind AKA's murder, the spotter and the shooter. He said the suspects were linked to the murder through vehicles,some hired, and ballistics. Mkhwanazi said two of the suspects were brothers from Durban, who were also linked to the murders of Mntimande Kunene, Nhlanhla Ngcobo and Zamokuhle Mkhwanazi-Ngcobo, who were executed in eManzimtoti and Berea respectively. The arrests come months after four other suspects were apprehended in April last year at the Erica Square in Belhar in the Western Cape. "The first arrest was made in April, the coordinator, last year, however the motive for these killings is unknown at this stage. There is footage of one of the suspects who was seen following AKA at the airport. The plan was to shoot AKA while he was in the car," said Mkhwanazi. "We now have two spotters, two shooters, the coordinators, however, there is a seventh suspect that is on the run. The coordinator paid all the suspects, same amount and provided guns and transport," added Mkhwanazi.

The suspects aged 28 and 29 years who had been hiding in a rented flat in Mbabane as reported by Eswatini Times, have already made their first appearance in court. According to a court document, the suspects revealed that they had been paid R133,000 for the rapper's life. They will face charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as money laundering. Earlier this month, national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe revealed publicly that they had made a further breakthrough in AKA's case and the suspects were in police custody facing charges related to other matters. The suspects will appear in court on Thursday.