Celebrities
Tony Forbes slams commission over AKA footage, says family was forced to relive trauma
Tony Forbes has publicly criticised the Madlanga Commission after it aired video footage linked to the killing of his son, AKA, during recent proceedings.
In a strongly worded letter, Forbes described the decision as “careless” and “insensitive,” saying it reopened deep emotional wounds for the family and the public.
The footage, which resurfaced during testimony last week, showed the rapper’s final moments before he was killed, alongside his close friend Tebello Motsoane.
While acknowledging the commission’s broader mandate to investigate serious allegations within South Africa’s criminal justice system, Forbes questioned the necessity of replaying such distressing material in a public forum.
“I cannot understand how the commissioners in all their wisdom have become so hardened that they would just carelessly display that footage,” he wrote. “They could have shown a screenshot.”
He further argued that the move failed to consider the emotional toll on those closest to the victims, noting that the repeated airing of the clip forced many to relive the tragedy all over again.
“It was not necessary in the context of the line of questioning,” Forbes added. “The question was about why this video was forwarded. Instead, now, we must live through all of this.”
The video was introduced during testimony from Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, also referred to as Witness F, as part of discussions around how footage of the incident had been circulated.
Although the clip had widely spread online shortly after the 2023 shooting, it had since become less accessible, making its reappearance during the hearings particularly distressing for the family.
The commission, officially established by Cyril Ramaphosa and chaired by retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, is probing allegations of corruption and interference within key institutions, including law enforcement and the judiciary.
The case surrounding AKA’s killing has become one of the matters linked to its wider investigation.
The rapper, born Kiernan Forbes, was 35 when he was shot in Durban in what authorities described as a targeted attack.
As the legal process continues, with suspects expected to face trial, Forbes’ latest remarks highlight the ongoing tension between public accountability and the private grief still carried by those closest to the tragedy.
The father of slain South African rap star Kiernan “AKA” Forbes has slammed the Madlanga Commission for airing footage of his son’s killing. The Commission showed footage depicting the murder of AKA last Friday during the testimony of Sergeant Fannie Nkosi. #eNCA #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/BpdfAnFVdT
— eNCA (@eNCA) March 24, 2026
