AKA Murder Trial: R10m Hit Fee vs R40k For Operatives Shocks Mzansi

• A parody legal account broke down the alleged payment structure behind AKA's 2023 assassination, and the numbers stunned social media
• The post claims a mastermind forked out R10 million for the hit, while the men who carried it out reportedly walked away with far less
• Mzansi reacted with a mix of dark humour and fury as the Durban High Court murder trial of seven accused continues

The ongoing Durban High Court murder trial of the seven men accused of killing rapper Kiernan "AKA" Forbes and chef Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane took a jaw-dropping turn on social media this week, after details about the alleged payment chain behind the February 2023 Florida Road shooting began circulating online.

Parody account @AdvoBarryRoux posted a breakdown of the alleged financial trail on Monday, 25 October 2026, claiming that a mystery mastermind paid R10 million to set the murder in motion. According to the diagram shared in the post, that R10 million filtered down through an intermediary, then a coordinator or recruiter, before eventually reaching the four men who physically carried out the hit — each reportedly pocketing just R40,000 for their role.

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"A mastermind paid 10 million rand for AKA's death, i know no drug dealer will pay that amount for just a drug beef!" the account wrote, racking up over 226,000 views and 2,200 likes within hours.

All seven accused in the trial have pleaded not guilty to a combined 19 charges, which include two counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.

Mzansi has its say

The staggering gap between what the alleged mastermind reportedly spent and what the operatives received did not go unnoticed. Forbes and Motsoane were shot and killed on Florida Road in Durban in February 2023. The trial continues to unfold as South Africans watch closely. Reactions flooded in almost immediately.

@lnnocentPikai wrote:

"Remuneration in the criminal world. Now someone will spend time because of a R40k job😭"

@ZekhetheloMntu1 added:

"Remuneration in the criminal world works exactly like in corporate."

@Daviekhoxy put it plainly:

"Imagine going to jail for 40k while someone pocketed 10 mil man aaah 😅"

Not everyone was laughing. @GrootmanGP questioned whether the full picture was being told, writing:

"A Mastermind"... S.A. media combined with the justice system is taking the whole country for a ride 🍰.. The banks knew who killed AKA in 2023. The fact that the mastermind's identity is still concealed tells me the 'mastermind' also happens to be an international drug trafficker."

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Others speculated about where the bulk of the money ended up.@Emmeren84096376 suggested:

"I think the other money ended up at the police officers."

@bkciti kept it brief:

"Dudes got only 40k from 10mil?? I would snitch 😂"

CCTV footage identifies one of the accused

In a previous report from Briefly News, fresh CCTV footage from inside Wish restaurant on Florida Road was presented in the Durban High Court during the trial.

A police witness identified one of the accused as the man seen moving in and out of the restaurant while using his phone on the night of the shooting.

Source: Briefly News