No state funeral for AKA – SA President turns down request

President of South Africa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa has turned down a request by Panyaza Lesufi, the provincial governor of Gauteng to organize a state funeral for the murdered rapper, Kiernan AKA Forbes.

But the request has been shot down though Panyaza Lesufi has stated he did not request any government support by way of funds to support the funeral. He said he only wanted flags to fly at half mast and that the coffin of the late rapper by draped in the famous rainbow colours.

“We felt that the person of his international stature, person of his national stature, there must be some form of honour, and we want to clarify it is not a financial contribution,” Panyaza is quoted saying by the BBC.

A public memorial will be held today, Friday, February 17 for the slayed rapper ahead of the burial tomorrow, Saturday.

Rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes was gunned down outside a restaurant at Florida Street in Durban, South Africa. He was killed alongside one other person who is believed to be his close associate while another who is said to be his bodyguard injured.

Meanwhile, his family and team have decided to release the album he had been working on in the last two years prior to his shock murder. The album titled “Mass Country” was scheduled to be released on February 24 and now it has been confirmed the album will be released as planned.

 “The team was extremely blessed to work so closely on this project with Kiernan. We spent a lot of time mapping out this rollout and creating all the content we have under his direction,” Nivo Ndimande, manager and co-executive producer of the album revealed.

“Kiernan worked tremendously hard on this project. He put his heart and soul into it, and we are blessed that he got the opportunity to map out this entire rollout and approve all elements. So what will come out as per his direction and his vision? We thank the Forbes family for their faith in the entire team working on this project,” Nivo Ndimande.