R822 000 Paid to AKA Murder Suspect Right After Shooting — Taxi Boss Gcaba Walks Free

A significant financial disclosure took center stage at the Durban High Court this week during the ongoing trial into the murder of South African rapper Kiernan Forbes, popularly known as AKA, and his close friend Tebello “Tibz” Tshabalala. State prosecutors revealed that a payment of R822 000 was transferred from taxi industry figure Mfundo Gcaba to the fourth accused in the case shortly after the fatal shooting took place on Florida Road in Durban on 10 February 2023.

Investigators presented evidence showing that Gcaba allegedly authorized the large cash transfer within hours of the double homicide outside the Wish restaurant. Police officers involved in tracing the financial records confirmed that the transaction forms a critical part of the paper trail connecting key individuals. The prosecution contends that the precise timing of the money transfer raises serious questions regarding the planning, financial reward, and broader network of individuals involved in organizing the attack.

Defense lawyers raised no immediate objections to the inclusion of the bank records during the session, and the court adjourned for the day without issuing a formal ruling on the evidence. The mention of the substantial sum caused a visible reaction from members of the public gathered inside the courtroom, highlighting the intense public interest surrounding the high-profile trial.

Seven suspects currently face charges of premeditated murder in connection with the killings, following a multi-province police investigation across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Despite his name being directly linked to the money transfer in open court, Gcaba is not among the seven individuals formally charged or sitting in the dock. The police maintain that financial investigations remain ongoing as prosecutors work to clarify the exact purpose of the payment and determine whether additional arrests will follow.

https://x.com/i/status/2117803481113252131

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