'Keep us in your prayers' - AKA's family says after rapper killed in a hail of bullets in Durban

Tragic.

That is probably the best way to describe the news South Africans woke up to.

Rapper AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, has died. He was 35.

Though the details are still sketchy, it believed he was shot outside a Durban nightclub on 10 February. He was killed with his close friends Tebello Tibz Motsoane.

AKA’s parents have released a statement, confirming his passing. 

In the statement, Tony and Lynn Forbes say they are still waiting for further details from the Durban police.

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"Our son was loved, and he gave love in return. 

"In this time of grief, we appeal for your compassion, space and time to congregate as a family to decide on the upcoming days," the statement reads in part.

Video footage for the inside the club shows Supermega having a great time, just minutes before he was gunned down.

A police officer on the scene told reporters that the AKA and Tibz were the only people who were shot.

“What we can confirm for now is that a well-known musician, a 35-year-old, and his body guard, aged 34 were shot and killed in Morningside, on Florida Road.

“What we have for now is that the musician and his security detail were leaving and heading to their vehicle and two unknown gunmen came across the street on foot and opened fire on them and killed them instantly.

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The motive is still unknown, the suspects are still at large, and police are investigating two counts of murder.

“We are investigating with the hope of finding the culprits and bringing them to justice,” the officer adds.

AKA has a daughter, Kairo, with fellow musician DJ Zinhle and together with her husband Murdah Bongz, the trio have been co-parenting their children.

He was previously engaged to Nellie Tembe who died after she allegedly fell to her death from the 10th floor of the Pepperclub Hotel in Cape Town on 11 April 2021.

At the time of his death, he was in relationship with rapper Nadia Nakai.

Tributes for AKA have started flowing in from ordinary South Africans and celebrities, alike.