SAPS slams ‘unfounded’ claims AKA firearm traced to Umlazi
The South African Police Service in KwaZulu-Natal has criticised the
media over what it says are unfounded reports on the AKA murder case.
Eye Witness News on Tuesday reported that police have traced the gun used to kill the rapper and his friend to Umlazi.
It's quoting sources close to the investigation as saying the weapon has been sent for ballistics testing.
Several weeks ago, IOL reported about a Mercedes Benz it claimed had been used as a getaway vehicle.
Rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and his friend Tebello Motsoane were gunned down on Durban’s popular Florida Road in February.
Provincial police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda says journalists' zeal to break stories around the case puts police investigations in jeopardy.
READ: LISTEN: AKA's mother says she's forgiven son's killer
"Moreover, allegations of this nature also put the investigating team under undue pressure and endanger their lives.
“Police are making another appeal to members of the media to respect the process of investigation, to refrain from publishing unfounded allegations and speculations, and to realise the unintended consequences of their actions.
Police are making good progress in the investigation and when the time is right the public will be informed accordingly.”
READ: No connection between suspect & AKA killing, court hears
He has advised journalists against formulating uncorroborated allegations for the sole reason of triggering a reaction or soliciting commentary from the police. "The zeal to break the story should never surpass the responsibility to report truthfully and ethically."
Kiernan Forbes and his friend Tebello Motsoane were shot and killed in Durban in February.
Last week in The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol spoke to AKA's mom, Lynn Forbes. Listen to that interview below:
