Cape Town – Police have defended their secrecy in the investigation of the murder of rapper AKA, saying that discretion was crucial due to the complex nature of the case involving contract killers.
The 35-year-old musician was gunned down on February 10 last year alongside celebrity chef Tebello Motsoane outside a popular Durban restaurant hours before he was to perform at a nearby club.
According to EWN, the police emphasised the need to ensure the safety of the investigation and prevent potential harm to witnesses or further criminal activity.
“So we arrested most of the other suspects on charges and kept them in custody up until a time we were confident we had rounded everyone. We had a concern that these are hitmen they are trained, and are well coordinated so once you rush to announce that three or four are in custody some of those who are outstanding would be taken out because that’s how they are operating,” the report quoted the police as saying.
Police confirmed on Tuesday that they had arrested six people over the murder of AKA.
“Six people have been arrested that will appear in court on Thursday” Police Minister Bheki Cele told a press conference in Durban.
Police Minister Bheki Cele confirmed that AKA and the Motsoane Family were informed before the Media briefing.
“The oldest of these guys is 36 And all the the suspects were Paid” Police Minister Bheki Cele pic.twitter.com/xGT4B13gp9
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) February 27, 2024
He said the oldest suspect was 36 and that others could be added to the list.
Provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi told reporters that the “mastermind”, two gunmen, two spotters and “the organiser of firearms and vehicles” were all in custody.
Reports indicated that a seventh suspect linked to the murder was arrested on Wednesday.
Several of those arrested were linked to separate murder cases, he said, and two had been held in the neighbouring landlocked country of Eswatini.
Police worked with Interpol and the Eswatini government to arrest two people “hiding” there and extradition procedures would be started, the commissioner said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
