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- AKA's parents, Lynn and Tony Forbes, have responded to ongoing calls for justice for the rapper, who was gunned down in Durban following reports that five men have been arrested in connection with his murder.
- Five men were taken in on Sunday and Monday by heavily armed police officers after a fortnight of surveilling their targets.
- The rapper's parents have also urged the public to be "safe and aware" of false requests for donations and investments from people posing as members of the Forbes family.
The parents of rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes have responded to ongoing calls for justice for their son after News24 on Tuesday reported police took five men in last week in connection with his murder.
"We are aware of the growing public discontent related to the progress which has been made in the investigation," Tony and Lynn Forbes said in a press statement. "However, as a family, we are deeply concerned that irresponsible actions, accusations and assumptions may cause more harm than good."
AKA and his long-time friend and former manager, Tebello Motsoane, were shot and killed outside a Durban restaurant in early February. They were honoured in public memorial services and laid to rest in private funerals.
According to the News24 report, heavily armed police officers took the five men in after a fortnight of surveilling on Sunday and Monday. However, KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda denied there was an update on the investigation, adding they "will provide progress on the matter in due course".
His parents said:
Tony and Lynn added they were "at a loss for words", describing their gratitude for the outpour of love they had received from AKA's supporters.
"We've seen people deeply hurt and angered by Kiernan's murder and wanting justice," they continued in the statement. "As a family, we empathise with the grief experienced, and we understand your pain."
The rapper's parents also urged the public to be "safe and aware" of false requests for donations and investments from people posing as members of the Forbes family.
"We have not opened any donation accounts or requested any investments," Tony and Lynn said. "Please continue to be safe and aware".
Shortly after AKA's death, social media was filled with remarks and speculation about his friends allegedly being involved in his murder. Tony criticised the remarks, saying: "We do not condone what's been said about his friends and those making dangerous statements."
READ MORE | Don Design breaks silence on AKA's death: 'My heart is shattered'
The family's lawyer, Rudolph Baloyi, also told Newzroom Afrika they were "not entertaining any claims made on social media".
